Ion generation using wetted porous material
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of samples. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a mass spectrometry probe including at least one porous material connected to a high voltage source, in which the porous material is discrete from a flow of solvent.
1. An analysis system comprising:
a probe comprising plant material that comprises at least one tip and that is operably coupled to a high voltage source such that an electric field is generated at a tip of the material, wherein the plant material is discrete from a flow of solvent and the probe operates without pneumatic assistance; and
a mass analyzer.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the high voltage source produces a DC voltage.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mass analyzer is a mass spectrometer or a handheld mass spectrometer.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mass analyzer is selected from the group consisting of: a quadrupole ion trap, a rectilinear ion trap, a cylindrical ion trap, a ion cyclotron resonance trap, an orbitrap, a time of flight, a Fourier Transform ion cyclotron resonance, and a sector mass spectrometer.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plant material tapers to a distal tip.
6. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a solvent applied to the plant material.
7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the solvent comprises an internal standard.
8. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the solvent minimizes salt and matrix effects.
9. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the solvent allows for on-line chemical
derivatization of selected analytes.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a member that holds the plant material.