MASS SPECTROMETER-COMPUTER SYSTEM PARTICULARLY SUITED FOR GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY OF COMPLEX MIXTURES

A digital recording technique for low resolution fast scanning mass spectrometers employing a medium size on-line computer is discussed. The speed with which data are taken and the large spectra storage capacity of the system make it particularly suited for recording mass spectra of gas chromatographic effluents. Some of the features of this system are that spectra are recorded continuously regardless of the emergence of gas chromatographic fractions; peak center and intensity calculations proceed while the spectrum is being scanned; secondary storage on magnetic disks allows space for a practically unlimited number of spectra; the computer controls the scanning function of the mass spectrometer; the spectra are correlated with the chromatogram by a plot of total intensity (calculated by the computer) vs. spectrum index number; and all spectra are presented in digital form (mass-intensity tables and/or plots) suitable for further processing such as correcting for background or searching standard files of spectra. © 1968, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.