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Title: Atmospheric sampling glow discharge ionization source

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7266069

An atmospheric sampling glow discharge ionization source that can be used in combination with an analytical instrument which operates at high vacuum, such as a mass spectrometer. The atmospheric sampling glow discharge ionization source comprises a chamber with at least one pair of electrodes disposed therein, an inlet for a gaseous sample to be analyzed and an outlet communicating with an analyzer which operates at subatmospheric pressure. The ionization chamber is maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, and a voltage difference is applied across the electrodes to induce a glow discharge between the electrodes, so that molecules passing through the inlet are ionized by the glow discharge and directed into the analyzer. The ionization source accepts the sample under atmospheric pressure conditions and processes it directly into the high vacuum instrument, bridging the pressure gap and drawing off unwanted atmospheric gases. The invention also includes a method for analyzing a gaseous sample using the glow discharge ionization source described above. 3 figs.

DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 4849628; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-267671
OSTI ID:
7266069
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 4 Nov 1988
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English