Particle-beam generator for LC/MS interface

A liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry system comprising:

• a gradient-elution liquid chromatography subsystem for providing an effluent containing at least one analyte in a predominantly aqueous solvent;
• a helium source for providing helium;
• a bubbler containing a water-soluble organic liquid, said bubbler being coupled to said helium source for receiving helium therefrom, said bubbler providing a dispersant gas including said helium and organic vapor, said organic vapor arising from said organic liquid;
• temperature control means for maintaining said organic liquid between 0.degree. C. and 8.degree. C.;
• a nebulizer, said nebulizer being coupled to said analyte source for receiving said effluent, said nebulizer being coupled to said bubbler for receiving said disperant gas, said nebulizer providing for interaction between said gaseous mixture and said effluent so as to promote nebulization of said effluent;
• a desolvation chamber providing for vaporization of said solvent to produce a solvent vapor;
• a momentum separator for separating said analyte from said helium, said organic vapor and said solvent vapor to yield a particle beam of said analyte;
• and
• a mass spectrometer for providing a mass spectrum of said analyte, said mass spectrometer being coupled to said momentum separator for receiving said particle beam therefrom.

A method of generating a particle beam, said method comprising:

• mixing an organic vapor with a carrier gas to provide a dispersant gas, said organic vapor being soluble in a solvent;
• contacting a solution including said solvent and an analyte with said dispersant gas within a nebulizer so that said solution is nebulized;
• vaporizing said solvent to produce solvent vapor;
• and
• separating said solvent vapor and said gaseous mixture from said analyte to yield a particle beam constituted by said analyte.

An analytical method comprising:

• separating component analytes of a sample mixture using gradientelution liquid chromatography so that a resulting effluent contains at least one analyte in a predominantly aqueous solvent;
• maintaining a water-soluble organic liquid between 0.degree. C. and 8.degree. C.;
• bubbling helium through said organic liquid to provide a dispersant gas including both helium and organic vapor;
• contacting said effluent with said dispersant gas;
• nebulizing said effluent so that said effluent breaks up into droplets including said analyte;
• desolvating said droplets to yield an analyte particle beam and a solvent vapor;
• separating said helium, said organic vapor, and said solvent vapor from said particle beam;
• and
• directing said particle beam to a mass spectrometer to obtain a mass spectrum of said analyte.