Patent ID: 7642510

Claim:
An ionization source useful with an atmospheric pressure mass spectrometer comprising: a source capable of ionizing either liquid or gaseous effluent from a preceding separation apparatus and of introducing the ions from an atmospheric pressure region of the mass spectrometer into a vacuum region of the mass spectrometer for mass analysis of the ions, the source including: an ionization arrangement, an enclosure for enclosing the ionization arrangement thereby defining an ionization region, the enclosure having at least one port for introducing an effluent, and an aperture for introducing ions into the vacuum region of the mass spectrometer, wherein the at least one port for introducing an effluent is configured to accept an interface from either a source of liquid effluent or a source of gaseous effluent, the enclosure further comprising a port for introducing a purge gas and a vent for venting excess purge gas from the enclosure, and a port for introducing a reactive gas and a vent for venting excess reactive gas from the enclosure, and an interface for facilitating the transport of chemical components from either a source of liquid effluent or a source of gaseous effluent into the atmospheric pressure region, the interface comprising a tubular member, made of a high temperature tolerant material, having an exit end and an entrance end, the interior of the tubular member being able to be heated to produce a uniform temperature throughout the interior of the tubular member.