USE OF TEMPERATURE AND FLOW PROFILES IN GRADIENT ELUTION BASED ANALYTICAL PROCESS

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for optimizing a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry system for gradient elution. A temperature profile is determined according to which a gas is flowed into an atmospheric pressure ionization interface for vaporizing a matrix flowed into the interface from a liquid chromatography column. A flow profile is determined according to which the gas is flowed into the interface for preventing entry of the matrix into the mass spectrometer when the matrix does not include an analyte for which detection is desired. The determination of the temperature and flow profiles is based on the characteristics of the matrix as it eludes from column into the interface. A heat control device and a flow control device can be provided for implementing the temperature profile and flow profile, respectively. The heating control device and flow control device can be programmed or controlled by software.