Sonic-spray nebulizer

Dams et al. [19] determined seven different opium alkaloids and derivatives in seized heroin using fast LC-MS analysis. Analytes were separated in 5 min on a monolithic silica column with a gradient elution system and an optimized flow of 5 mL/min. Detection was carried out using a sonic spray ion source [20] a modified ESI source were ionization is achieved using a nebulizer gas at sonic speed instead of applying an electrical field. 

In 2008, easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS), originally named desorption sonic spray ionization (DeSSI), was coupled with TLC [69], later with HPTLC [70]. An acidic mixture of methanol and water was sprayed at a maximum flow rate of 15 pL/min coaxial with the supersonic nebulizing gas set at 30 bar. The spray beam of the homemade easy ambient sonic-spray ionization (EASI) source was mounted on the supplied nano-electrospray ionization (nano-ESI) source and directed in a 30-degree angle onto the plate. Without any voltage or heating, just the impact of a high velocity spray served to extract and desorb analytes from the TLC surface and softly ionize them. 

Suspensions were pretreated by soni-cation for 2D4 min. After sonication, the samples were diluted to 10 mL with water. Aerosols, produced from suspensions by the V-groove nebulizer, were immediately carried on by the Ar plasma support gas through the spray chamber into the plasma... 

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