Abstract:
The present invention relates to a mass analyzing apparatus, comprising a first metal electrode plate, a second metal electrode plate, an RF power supply, a reactant gas and a mass spectrometry. The second metal electrode plate is grounded. There is a gap between the first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate. The RF power supply is electrically connected to the first metal electrode plate. Electric discharge is caused between the first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate, so that the reactant gas becomes dissociation plasma. The dissociation plasma reacts with a gas analyte from a sample and then enters the mass spectrometry for a mass analysis. In addition, since the dissociation plasma is generated under low temperature and atmospheric pressure, the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention is applicable for biological samples that need to be analyzed at a low temperature.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a mass analyzing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mass analyzing apparatus capable of generating an ionization source by an RF power, without sample pretreatment at normal temperature and atmospheric pressure. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the conventional art, chemical compositions in samples (such as Chinese medicinal herbs) are analyzed by detection through liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer (LC/MS) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The samples must be pretreated by being extracted with a solvent before being analyzed, so as to get signals. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an ionization source for a conventional direct analysis in real time (DART) as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,785. 
   Taking positive ions for example, the operational principle of the ionization source  1  includes: atoms of an inert gas (e.g., helium gas) that flow around the ionization source  1  are excited or ionized by a high voltage field at one atmosphere of pressure, as shown in Equation (1); next, the generated helium ions (He + ) or the excited-state helium atoms (He*) impact with water molecules (H 2 O) in the atmosphere, to generate water ions (H 2 O + ) and electrons (e − ), as shown in Equation (2); then, water ions (H 2 O + ) react with other water molecules (H 2 O), to generate hydrated ions (H 3 O + ), as shown in Equation (3); finally, the hydrated ions and molecules (M) of a gas analyte from a sample perform an ion-molecule reaction, so as to generate molecular ions (MH + ) of the analyte, as shown in Equation (4). Besides the above ionization process, the molecular ions of the analyte can also be formed by directly impacting the helium ions or excited state helium molecules with gas analyte, as shown in Equation (5). 
   
     
               
       
           
           
       
    
   
   The ionization source  1  has a metal needle  11  therein, and a DC high voltage is applied to the metal needle  11 . Extremely high electric field intensity is generated due to the very small area of the top end of the metal needle  11 , and the helium stream flows in through an inlet  12  behind the metal needle  11 , to perform the reactions of Equations (1) to (3). As the ion-molecule reaction is merely suitable for gas molecules, the helium stream flows through a heating region  13 , so that the temperature of the helium gas flowing out from the outlet  14  of the ionization source  1  is between 50° C. and 70° C. Once the hot gas stream containing helium gas, helium ions, and excited state helium molecules impacts the surface of the sample (usually, a solid), the chemicals on the surface of the sample are likely to be volatilized, so as to be reacted with the hydrated ions in the atmosphere to form analyte ions, i.e., perform the reactions of Equations (4) and (5). Then, the analyte ions enter a mass spectrometer for a mass analysis. 
   The ionization source  1  is characterized by its operation at an atmospheric pressure, so mass signals of the sample can be obtained without any sample treatment, which is very helpful for the object to be analyzed within a very short time or in situ in real time. The ionization source  1  can be used for analysis in the following situations: the detection of bombs in an airport and the rapid identification of air or water pollutants in environmental analysis. Additionally, the technique can also be used in situ to examine whether medicine is drugs, or to determine whether currency is real or fake by analyzing the ink chemicals. 
   The ionization source  1  is disadvantageous in that the operation environment is a high-voltage and high-temperature environment, which is very undesirable when the sample is a biomolecule, since the biomolecule is easily damaged in such an environment. Moreover, as the position where the plasma gas molecules are generated by the ionization source  1  is far away from the sample and the inlet of the mass spectrometer, after being dissociated, the excited state gas molecules are reduced to a basic state during the flight. Thus, the charge-carrying capacity of the sample molecules is reduced, which leads to poor detection efficiency. Additionally, the ionization source  1  needs a large gas stream, and therefore the operation cost is high. 
   Additionally, there is an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP MS), which is applied on ionizing metal atoms. However, in the ICP MS, in order to ionize the metal atoms, it is necessary to consume a large amount of energy, which is generally an AC voltage (1700 V) with an output power of 1200 W and an RF of 13.56 MHz. The temperature of the plasma generated at this condition is approximately between 6000° C. and 8000° C., and the used inert gas is argon gas (Ar), which cannot generate plasma discharge in an environment of high atmospheric pressure in order to generate ionized gas molecules, and thus cannot be applied in detecting biomolecules under an atmospheric pressure. 
   Therefore, it is necessary to provide a mass analyzing apparatus to solve the above problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a mass analyzing apparatus, which includes: a first metal electrode plate, a second metal electrode plate, an RF power supply, a reactant gas, and a mass spectrometer. The first metal electrode plate has a plurality of first through-holes. The second metal electrode plate has a plurality of second through-holes, and the second metal electrode plate is grounded. There is a gap between the second metal electrode plate and the first metal electrode plate. The RF power supply is electrically connected to the first metal electrode plate, so that electric discharge is caused between the first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate. The reactant gas passes through the first metal electrode plate and the second metal electrode plate, and the reactant gas becomes dissociation plasma. The plasma is blown out from the second through-holes of the second metal electrode plate, reacts with the gas analyte from the sample, and enters the mass spectrometer for a mass analysis. Therefore, the plasma is generated in an environment of atmospheric pressure and room temperature, in which the temperature is kept at about 50° C., and the maximum temperature of the gas does not exceed 70° C., and thus, the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention is suitable for biological samples that should be operated at low temperature. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to perform a mass detection on solid, liquid, or gas samples, and it is not necessary to perform complicated pretreatments on the samples. Moreover, the plasma is immediately blown out from the second through-holes once it is generated and reacts with the gas analyte from the sample, so that the ionization efficiency is much higher than that of the conventional ionization source  1  does not exceed 70° C., and thus, the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention is suitable for biological samples that should be operated at low temperature. Furthermore, the present invention can be used to perform a mass detection on solid, liquid, or gas samples, and it is not necessary to perform complicated pretreatments on the samples. Moreover, the plasma is immediately blown out from the second through-holes once it is generated and reacts with the gas analyte from the sample, so that the ionization efficiency is much higher than that of the conventional ionization source  1 . 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an ionization source for a conventional direct analysis in real time (DART) as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,785; 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an ionization source for the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows an ion concentration curve of the ionization source of the present invention at different RF output powers; 
       FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is chewing gum; 
       FIGS. 6   a  to  6   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is angelica; 
       FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is dried ginger; 
       FIGS. 8   a  to  8   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is peach seed; 
       FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is dried ginger and peach seed; and 
       FIGS. 10   a  to  10   g  show mass spectrums measured at different times when monitoring the chalcone epoxidation reaction by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of a mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention.  FIG. 3  shows a sectional view of an ionization source for the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention. The mass analyzing apparatus  2  includes an ionization source  3 , a mass spectrometer  21 , a cover  22 , a heating plate  23 , and a sample  24 . The ionization source  3  includes a first cylinder  31 , a second cylinder  32 , an insulation layer  33 , a first metal electrode plate  34 , a second metal electrode plate  35 , an RF power supply  36 , and a reactant gas supply  37 . 
   The first cylinder  31  is located within the second cylinder  32 , that is, the inner diameter of the first cylinder  31  is smaller than that of the second cylinder  32 . The insulation layer  33  is located between the outer wall of the first cylinder  31  and the inner wall of the second cylinder  32 . In this embodiment, the first cylinder  31  and the second cylinder  32  are made of stainless steel. The material of the insulation layer  33  is a high insulation material, such as Teflon, so as to electrically block the first cylinder  31  and the second cylinder  32 . 
   The first metal electrode plate  34  has a plurality of first through-holes arranged in an array. The first metal electrode plate  34  is connected to an open end of the first cylinder  31 . The second metal electrode plate  35  has a plurality of second through-holes arranged in an array. The second metal electrode plate  35  is connected to an open end of the second cylinder  32 , and the second metal electrode plate  35  and the first metal electrode plate  34  are parallel and spaced apart from each other by a gap, so as to form a face discharge room  45 . The first through-holes communicate with the face discharge room  45 , and the second through-holes communicate with the face discharge room  45 . In this embodiment, the second metal electrode plate  35  and the first metal electrode plate  34  have a ring-shaped pad  40  therebetween, so as to make the second metal electrode plate  35  and the first metal electrode plate  34  parallel and maintain a gap therebetween. The second metal electrode plate  35 , the first metal electrode plate  34  and the ring-shaped pad  40  define the face discharge room  45 . In this embodiment, the first metal electrode plate  34  and the second metal electrode plate  35  are made of conductive metal, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or copper, and they are disc shaped, and the diameter of the first metal electrode plate  34  is less than that of the second metal electrode plate  35 . In this embodiment, the gap between the second metal electrode plate  35  and the first metal electrode plate  34  is about 0.5 mm. 
   In this embodiment, the ionization source  3  further includes a third cylinder  42 , a front cover  43 , and a back cover  44 . The inner diameter of the third cylinder  42  is greater than that of the second cylinder  32 . The third cylinder  42 , the front cover  43 , and the back cover  44  form a back cavity  421 . The second cylinder  32  is connected to the front cover  43 , and the cavity formed by the second cylinder  32  communicates with the back cavity  421 . The back cover  44  has a first opening  441  and a second opening  442 . In this embodiment, as the inner diameter of the third cylinder  42  is greater than that of the second cylinder  32 , the ionization source  3  has a step-like appearance. However, it should be understood that the ionization source  3  can also not have the third cylinder  42  and the front cover  43 , that is to say, the second cylinder  32  can be directly connected to the back cover  44  so the ionization source  3  has a single cylinder-shaped appearance. 
   The RF power supply  36  is connected to a first opening  441  of the back cover  44  through a first connecting pipe  38 , and electrically connected to the first cylinder  31  through a wire  41 , so as to supply an RF AC current to the first metal electrode plate  34 . The second metal electrode plate  35  and the second cylinder  32  are directly grounded. As the distance between the second metal electrode plate  35  and the first metal electrode plate  34  is very small, an electric discharge is generated between the first metal electrode plate  34  and the second metal electrode plate  35 . In this embodiment, the RF AC current supplied by the RF power supply  36  has a power of 15 W, and an RF of 13.56 MHz. 
   The reactant gas supply  37  is connected to a second opening  442  of the back cover  44  through a second connecting pipe  39  to input a reactant gas to the back cavity  421 , and further input it to the first cylinder  31 . The reactant gas can be, for example, helium gas, argon gas, nitrogen gas, or air. In this embodiment, the reactant gas is helium gas at a flow rate of 1-3 L/min. When the helium gas is introduced into the face discharge room  45  between the second metal electrode plate  35  and the first metal electrode plate  34 , dissociation plasma is formed by the impact of the helium molecules on the high-energy electrons generated by the face discharging process occurred in the face discharge room  45 , and the reaction is as shown in Equation (1). The dissociation plasma is then extruded and blown out by the net gas pressure generated by the continuously introduced helium gas, thereby departing from the second metal electrode plate  35 . 
   The cover  22  is used to carry the sample  24  therein, and the sample  24  is located between the second metal electrode plate  35  of the ionization source  3  and the mass spectrometer  21 . The cover  22  preferably further includes a heating plate  23  thereunder, for heating the sample  24 , with the cover  22  located therebetween. If the sample  24  is volatile, a gas analyte is generated without being heated; if the sample  24  is nonvolatile, a gas analyte is generated upon being heated or being irradiated by a laser. Therefore, the present invention preferably further includes a laser generator (not shown) for generating a laser, so as to irradiate the sample  24  and thus generate a gas analyte. 
   Additionally, if desired, an opening (not shown) can be made below the cover  22 , so that the heating plate  23  can directly carry and heat the sample  24 . 
   The mass spectrometer  21  has a sample receiver  211 . In this embodiment, the mass spectrometer  21  is manufactured by Micromass Company, with a model of Quattro LC system. The sample receiver  211  is located at the top end of a cone with a diameter of about 14 mm. One end (the left end in the figure) of the cover  22  covers the second cylinder  32  and the second metal electrode plate  35  of the dissociation source  3 ; and the other end (the right end in the figure) of the cover  22  forms a bowl-shaped shrinkage, and has a small hole at the top end for being sleeved on the sample receiver  211 . In this way, the cover  22  forms a cavity with the upper part being substantially closed, so as to prevent the ions from being volatilized into the air. In this embodiment, the cover  22  is made of glass, and has a length of 57 mm. 
   When the plasma departs from the ionization source  3  and enters the cover  22 , as the plasma contains a large amount of excited-state helium atoms (He*) and electrons therein, the plasma can perform a series of ion-molecule reactions and charge exchanges with the moisture in the air and the gas analyte (M) from the sample  24 , so as to generate protonation molecular ions (MH + ) of the analyte, and the reactions are shown by Equations (1)-(5). The molecular ions of the analyte enter the mass spectrometer  21  through the sample receiver  211  for a mass analysis. 
   The present invention is advantageous in that the ionization source  3  can generate low-temperature plasma at atmospheric pressure, and after being consecutively operated for 60 min., the temperature of the second cylinder  32  of the ionization source  3  can still be stably maintained lower than 70° C. Therefore, the ionization source  3  of the present invention is extremely suitable for biological samples that should be analyzed at a low temperature. Additionally, the concentration of the ionized gas generated by the ionization source  3  of the present invention will be stably increased along with the input power and gas flow rate of the ionization source  3 , which indicates that the ionization source  3  is extremely suitable for being applied as an ionization source for stable mass analysis. Furthermore, the present invention can directly perform mass detection on solid, liquid, or gas samples, and it is not necessary to perform a complicated pretreatment of the samples. Moreover, once generated, the plasma is immediately blown out through the second through-hole of the second metal electrode plate  35  and reacts with the gas analyte from the sample  24 , and thus, the ionization efficiency is much higher than that of the conventional ionization source  1 . Finally, as the ionization source  3  merely has gas input, the mass spectrometer  21  does not have the memory effect generated by the conventional ionization source, but performs consecutive analyses of various samples and does not affect the mass analysis signals of the next sample due to the memory effect. Additionally, a laser can be used to heat the samples having higher molecular weights, which is advantageous in focusing on a small area. Therefore, various positions on the sample surface can be detected selectively, and even consecutive detections can be performed, so as to obtain the molecular image of the sample. 
   The present invention is illustrated in detail through the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to the disclosure of the examples. 
   EXAMPLE 1 
     FIG. 4  shows an ion concentration curve of the ionization source of the present invention at different RF output powers. This example aims at testing the concentration of the plasma ions generated by the ionization source  3  according to the above embodiment, and the experimental methods are listed as follows: the flow rate of the reactant gas is fixed at 6 L/min, and the output power of the RF power supply  36  is taken as the manipulating variable, the initial power of the RF power supply  36  is 6 W, and then is increased by 2 W in one stage. It can be seen in the experimental results shown in  FIG. 4  that there is an obvious increment in each stage, which indicates that the ionization source  3  can indeed improve the ion concentration as the power increases stably, and the whole concentration magnitude falls in a range of 10 8 ˜10 10  ions per second, which meets the requirements for the concentration. 
   EXAMPLE 2 
     FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is chewing gum. In this example, the sample of chewing gum is sliced and then placed into the cover  22  of the mass analyzing apparatus  2  for testing.  FIG. 5   a  shows a mass spectrum without the sample of chewing gum being placed therein, from which it can be seen that there is only one background peak signal. 
     FIG. 5   b  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of chewing gum being heated 70° C. by the heating plate  23 , from which it can be seen that many molecular signals have been detected, and the labeled peaks are the spectrums of various saccharides in the chewing gum.  FIG. 5   c  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of chewing gum being heated to 100° C. by the heating plate  23 , from which it can be seen that more ingredients have been excited and detected. 
   EXAMPLE 3 
     FIGS. 6   a  to  6   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is angelica. In this example, the sample of angelica is sliced and then placed into the cover  22  of the mass analyzing apparatus  2  for testing.  FIG. 6   a  shows a mass spectrum without the sample of angelica being placed therein, from which it can be seen that there is only one background peak signal.  FIG. 6   b  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of angelica being heated to 70° C. by the heating plate  23 , from which it can be seen that liqustilide (with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 190.8) and butylidene phthalide (with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 189.2) have been detected.  FIG. 6   c  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of angelica being heated to 100° C. by the heating plate  23 , from which it can be seen that umbelliferone (with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 163.1) has been excited and detected. 
   EXAMPLE 4 
     FIGS. 7   a  to  7   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is dried ginger. In this example, the sample of dried ginger is sliced and then placed into the cover  22  of the mass analyzing apparatus  2  for testing.  FIG. 7   a  shows a mass spectrum without the sample of dried ginger being placed therein, from which it can be seen that there is only one background peak signal. 
     FIG. 7   b  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of dried ginger being heated to 70° C. by the heating plate  23 .  FIG. 7   c  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of dried ginger being heated to 100° C. by the heating plate  23 . As shown in  FIGS. 7   b  and  7   c , ion signals of main volatile substances in the dried ginger have been detected. 
   EXAMPLE 5 
     FIGS. 8   a  to  8   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the sample is peach seed. In this example, the sample of peach seed is sliced and then placed into the cover  22  of the mass analyzing apparatus  2  for testing.  FIG. 8   a  shows a mass spectrum without the sample of peach seed being placed therein, from which it can be seen that there is only one background peak signal.  FIG. 8   b  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of peach seed being heated to 70° C. by the heating plate  23 .  FIG. 8   c  shows a mass spectrum with the sample of peach seed being heated to 100° C. by the heating plate  23 . As shown in  FIGS. 8   b  and  8   c , ion signals of main volatile substances in the peach seed have been detected. 
   EXAMPLE 6 
     FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c  show mass spectrums measured by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which the samples are dried ginger and peach seed. In this example, the samples of dried ginger and peach seed are sliced and then placed into the cover  22  of the mass analyzing apparatus  2  for testing.  FIG. 9   a  shows a mass spectrum without the samples of dried ginger and peach seed being placed therein, from which it can be seen that there is only one background peak signal.  FIG. 9   b  shows a mass spectrum with the samples of dried ginger and peach seed being heated to 70° C. by the heating plate  23 .  FIG. 9   c  shows a mass spectrum with the samples of dried ginger and peach seed being heated to 100° C. by the heating plate  23 . As shown in  FIGS. 9   b  and  9   c , individual signals from the two Chinese medicinal herbs have been detected, wherein ● indicates the signals of dried ginger, ♦ indicates the signals of peach seed, and ▴ indicates the co-signals of dried ginger and peach seed. 
   EXAMPLE 7 
     FIGS. 10   a  to  10   g  show mass spectrums measured at different times when monitoring the epoxidation reaction of chalcone by the mass analyzing apparatus of the present invention, in which  FIG. 10   a  shows the mass spectrum at 0.722 min.,  FIG. 10   b  shows the mass spectrum at 2.025 min.,  FIG. 10   c  shows the mass spectrum at 3.584 min.,  FIG. 10   d  shows the mass spectrum at 4.134 min.,  FIG. 10   e  shows the mass spectrum at 5.051 min.,  FIG. 10   f  shows the mass spectrum at 5.766 min., and  FIG. 10   g  shows the mass spectrum at 6.372 min. In this example, H 2 O 2  and NaOH are added into chalcone to perform the epoxidation reaction, and the reaction equation is shown as follows: 
   
     
               
       
           
           
       
    
   
   It can be learned from  FIG. 10   a  that, when the reactant exists by itself, a signal with a mass/charge ratio (i/z) of 209 can be obtained. Next, after adding the catalyst NaOH, no change occurs in the reactant, as shown in  FIG. 10   b , and still there is merely a signal with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of  209 . Then, once H 2 O 2  is added, a product is generated, as shown in  FIGS. 10   c  to  10   g , and signals of the product 1,3-diphenyl-1,2-epoxy-propan-3-one with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 225 can be obtained, and signal of 2,3-dihydroxy-1,3-diphenylpropan-1-one with a mass/charge ratio (m/z) of 242 can be obtained, which lacks an OH group compared with the product. 
   While several embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art. The embodiments of the present invention are therefore described in an illustrative but not restrictive sense. It is intended that the present invention should not be limited to the particular forms as illustrated, and that all modifications which maintain the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope defined in the appended claims.