Development of high-throughput and miniaturized mass spectrometers using miniature cylindrical ion trap analyzers
Abstract
Mass spectrometry, widely known for high sensitivity and specificity, has become a ubiquitous tool for making a wide variety of measurements in the physical sciences. The objectives of the projects described in this thesis are the development of novel ion trap mass spectrometers, in particular, using cylindrical ion trap mass analyzers, for application in fieldable analysis of chemical species present in air and in high-throughput, parallel sample analysis. Two new mass spectrometer systems were developed. The first, a multiple channel, high throughput mass spectrometer using a cylindrical ion trap array was constructed. The goal of such an instrument is to demonstrate the possibility of using a cylindrical ion trap array for the simultaneous analysis of multiple, independent sample streams. Two fully multiplexed ion analysis channels (sources, ion optics, ion traps, detectors) were housed in a single vacuum chamber and operated with a common set of control electronics. Details of the instrument's construction are given. The performance of the instrument was demonstrated using electrospray ionization sources and several different sample types, including small molecules, peptides, and proteins. The second instrument described is a miniature, atmospheric pressure ionization, cylindrical ion trap mass spectrometer. Current mass spectrometers are large, expensive, and delicate pieces of equipment and are not intended to be used in the field. The in situ detection of analytes for pollution monitoring, explosives detection, chemical warfare agent detection, process monitoring, and many other applications is desirable. A complete description of the instrument's construction is given in chapter three. Initial data from the instrument operated with corona discharge ionization and electrospray ionization is presented.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Cooks, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Analytical chemistry
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