초록 ▼

A disruptor apparatus comprises a nozzle comprising: a converging section; a diverging section; and a throat between the converging section and the diverging section. The disruptor apparatus also comprises a holder configured to receive a fluid conduit, which comprises an outlet located in the conve

A disruptor apparatus comprises a nozzle comprising: a converging section; a diverging section; and a throat between the converging section and the diverging section. The disruptor apparatus also comprises a holder configured to receive a fluid conduit, which comprises an outlet located in the converging section; and a channel disposed about the holder and configured to guide a gas past the outlet of the fluid conduit, through the converging section, through the throat and into the diverging section where the gas travels at supersonic speed and establishes a standing shock wave in the diverging section. A mass spectrometer and a method are also described.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a disruptor apparatus comprising a nozzle, the nozzle comprising a throat, a converging section and a diverging section in tandem, a method comprising: introducing a gas into the converging section of the nozzle at an upstream pressure;subjecting the diverging section of the nozzle to an ambie

1. In a disruptor apparatus comprising a nozzle, the nozzle comprising a throat, a converging section and a diverging section in tandem, a method comprising: introducing a gas into the converging section of the nozzle at an upstream pressure;subjecting the diverging section of the nozzle to an ambient pressure so that a ratio of the upstream pressure to the ambient pressure creates a standing shock wave in the diverging section; andsubjecting drops of a fluid comprising an analyte to impact the standing shock wave, causing the drops to be broken into droplets having a smaller size than the drops, resulting in substantially complete desolvation of a mobile phase of a liquid chromatography (LC) fluid. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, before the subjecting, mixing a fluid comprising an analyte with the gas in the converging section to form the drops, and directing the drops towards the standing shock wave. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diverging section comprises an exit and the standing shock wave and the standing shock wave is located adjacent to the exit. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising subjecting the converging section of the nozzle to an electric field. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inert gas attains a velocity in the diverging section at a speed of approximately Mach 2.0 or greater. 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fragmenting substantially desolvates the droplets into ions and gas molecules. 7. A disruptor apparatus, comprising: a nozzle comprising: a converging section; a diverging section; and a throat between the converging section and the diverging section;a holder configured to receive a fluid conduit, which comprises an outlet located in the converging section, wherein the holder and the fluid conduit substantially share a common longitudinal axis; anda channel disposed about the holder and configured to guide a gas past the outlet of the fluid conduit, through the converging section, through the throat and into the diverging section where the gas travels at supersonic speed and establishes a standing shock wave in the diverging section. 8. A disruptor apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the gas at least assists in nebulizing a fluid emerging from the outlet of the fluid conduit to form drops of a first size. 9. A disruptor apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the standing shock wave is formed at or near an exit of the diverging section. 10. A disruptor apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drops are incident on the standing shock wave, and are fragmented by the shock wave into droplets of a second size that is smaller than the first size. 11. A disruptor apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the nozzle and the fluid conduit are defined in an electrically-conducting material, and the holder is electrically insulating. 12. A mass spectrometer, comprising: a disruptor apparatus, comprising:a nozzle comprising: a converging section; a diverging section; and a throat between the converging section and the diverging section;a holder configured to receive a fluid conduit, which comprises an outlet located in the converging section, wherein the holder and the fluid conduit substantially share a common longitudinal axis; anda channel disposed about the holder and configured to guide a gas past the outlet of the fluid conduit, through the converging section, through the throat and into the diverging section where the gas travels at supersonic speed and establishes a standing shock wave in the diverging section. 13. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gas at least assists in nebulizing a fluid emerging from the outlet of the fluid conduit to form drops of a first size. 14. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the standing shock wave is formed at or near an exit of the diverging section. 15. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 13, wherein the drops are incident on the standing shock wave, and are fragmented by the shock wave into droplets of a second size that is smaller than the first size. 16. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 13, wherein the nozzle and the fluid conduit are defined in electrically-conducting material, and the holder is electrically insulating. 17. A disruptor apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the holder comprises orifices configured to direct the gas radially out of the holder and into the channel. 18. A mass spectrometer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the holder comprises orifices configured to direct the gas radially out of the holder and into the channel. 19. An ion source comprising the disruptor apparatus of claim 7.