Interface for the rapid analysis of liquid samples by accelerator mass spectrometry

A moving wire interface apparatus for the analysis of liquid sample having carbon content by an accelerator mass spectrometer, comprising:

• a wire,
• a system for moving said wire,
• a wire indentor that produces indentations in said wire,
• a droplet maker for producing droplets of the liquid sample and placing said droplets of the liquid sample on said wire in said indentations in said wire,
• a system that converts the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas in a helium stream, and
• a gas-accepting ion source connected to the accelerator mass spectrometer that receives said carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream and introduces said carbon dioxide gas of the sample into the accelerator mass spectrometer for analysis,
• where said system for moving said wire moves said wire from said droplet maker to said system that converts the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas in a helium stream.

An interface apparatus for analysis of a liquid sample having carbon content by an accelerator mass spectrometer, comprising:

• means for providing a wire having spaced defects in said wire,
• means for placing droplets of the liquid sample on said wire in said defects in said wire,
• means for moving said wire,
• means for converting the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream, and introducing said carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream into the accelerator mass spectrometer for analysis,
• wherein said means for moving said wire moves said wire from said means for placing droplets of the liquid sample on said wire in said defects in said wire to said means for converting the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream.

A method of analysis of a liquid sample having carbon content by an accelerator mass spectrometer, comprising the steps of:

• providing a wire having spaced defects in said wire,
• placing droplets of the liquid sample on said wire in said defects in said wire,
• converting the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream,
• moving said wire from said step of placing droplets of the liquid sample on said wire in said defects in said wire to said step of converting the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream, and
• introducing said carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream into the accelerator mass spectrometer for analysis.

A moving wire interface method of analysis of a liquid sample having carbon content by an accelerator mass spectrometer, comprising the steps of:

• providing a wire,
• providing a wire indentor that produces indentations in said wire,
• providing a droplet maker for producing droplets of the liquid sample and placing said droplets of the liquid sample on said wire in said indentations in said wire,
• converting the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream,
• moving said wire from said step of providing a wire indentor that produces indentations in said wire to said step of converting the carbon content of said droplets of the liquid sample to carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream, and
• introducing said carbon dioxide gas of the sample in a helium stream into the accelerator mass spectrometer for analysis.