Method and apparatus for the determination of the state of organisms and products of nature and for the analysis of gaseous mixtures having components and secondary components

摘要

Evaluation of the condition of organisms or natural products which emit substances into the atmosphere comprises determination of one or more of these substances in a gaseous mixture. This is achieved by irradiation with an ion beam under a high vacuum in a mass spectrometer and evaluation of the spectrum produced. Independent claims are included for: (a) a method for analyzing a gaseous mixture containing a main component (concentration not less than 0.1 vol%) and a minor component (concentration not more than 0.1 vol%) by irradiation with an ion beam under a high vacuum in a mass spectrometer and evaluation of the spectrum produced; and (b) apparatus for analyzing a gaseous mixture comprising a mass spectrometer fitted with a gas supply system (1 - 4) in which the sample forms an molecular stream in an intermediate vacuum chamber (24) held under constant vacuum and then, using a pressure gradient across a capillary (10) connected to this, producing a second molecular stream in a high vacuum chamber (22).