Characterization of a discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface. Multiple ion introduction pulses for improved performance

Discontinuous atmospheric pressure interfaces (DAPI) are used to match the rate of sample introduction to the pumping capacity of miniature mass spectrometers. In this study, the influence of the interface flow conductance and the mass spectrometer pumping speed on ion introduction into a handheld mass spectrometer is investigated. Results show that an intermediate flow conductance (2.6 × 10−3 L/s) gives the best ion introduction efficiency whereas the pumping speed has no influence in the range studied (0.35–7.1 L/s) except that a minimum pumping speed of 0.35 L/s is required. The linear dynamic range decreases with increasing interface open time, a result that corresponds to observations made using standard electrical gating of ion introduction a method that is not available at the high pressures involved in API into miniature systems where ions are transported through pneumatic flow. However, the mechanical opening of the interface with DAPI can be used for automatic gain control (AGC) using an external ion source. Software modifications to allow the use of multiple ion introduction pulses before mass analysis of the trapped ion population improve the detection limits. This method was validated by comparing the results obtained from the same sample using a single ion introduction pulse and multiple ion introduction pulses. In conjunction with this method, a broad-band waveform can be applied to selectively accumulate analyte ions, allowing essentially the entire ion trapping capacity to be devoted to one or more ions of interest.