A METHOD FOR ELEMENT-SELECTIVE DETECTION, A MICRO PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETER FOR USE IN THE METHOD AND A PLASMA ION SOURCE, TOGETHER WITH APPLICATIONS THEREOF

摘要

In a method for element-selective detection of chromatographically orelectrophoretically separated compounds there is employed a micro plasma massspectrometer with a plasma ion source provided in the mass spectrometer's highvacuum chamber. The plasma ion source is equipped with a capillary channelsurrounded by a radio-frequency electrode connected to a radio-frequencygenerator and around or adjacent to the capillary channel there are providedone or more earth electrodes. When plasma gas is introduced into the channel,the plasma is created by discharges between the radio-frequency electrode andone or more of the earth electrodes. The method, the plasma mass spectrometerand the plasma ion source can be installed in existing, commercial massspectrometers.