Ionization inlet systems, MALDI

The hybrid can be used with El, Cl, FI, FD, LSIMS, APCI, ES, and MALDI ionization/inlet systems. The nature of the hybrid leads to high sensitivity in both MS and MS/MS modes, and there is rapid switching between the two. The combination is particularly useful for biochemical and environmental analyses because of its high sensitivity and the ease of obtaining MS/MS structural information from very small amounts of material. The structural information can be controlled by operating the gas cell at high or low collision energies. 

Just before loading the system the tape that closed the outlet pocket was removed. At this stage the liquid is kept in the inlet cups by the atmospheric pressure at the opened outlet (Figure 11.4a). Once the MALDI sample plate with the integrated microchip enters the vacuum ionization chamber, the counterpressure from the outlet disappears and the air in both inlet pockets pushes the liquid through the microchannel towards the outlet pocket (Figure 11.4b). 

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