EVALUATION OR THE PERFORMANCE OF A MICROFLOW RATE LC/MS PARTICLE-BEAM INTERFACE

A modified Hewlett-Packard LC/MS particle beam interface which allows the use of mobile phase microflow rates (down to 1 mu L/min) has been refined and evaluated. Its overall performance was accurately investigated to discover and underline positive contributions to liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry interfacing. Several aspects of the coupling technique, including the optimization procedure, temperature influence, and flow rate variation, were considered; the results were compared to those obtained with a standard Hewlett-Packard interface. Detection limits and the use of nonvolatile buffers were also evaluated. The new interface gave positive results in most of the tests performed, and it was demonstrated that it satisfies both chromatographic and mass spectrometric crucial requirements.