Incorporation of a venturi device in electrospray ionization

Electrospray ionization has grown to be one of the most commonly used ionization techniques for mass spectrometry, and efforts continue to improve its performance. Typically, the sprayer tip must be very close to the entrance orifice of the mass spectrometer in order to maximize the conduction of ions from the sprayer into the mass spectrometer. However, because of space-charge repulsion, most ions never reach the sampling orifice. In this work, an industrial air amplifier, for which the working mechanism is based on venturi and coanda effects, was added between an electrospray ionization source and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. When a series of reserpine solutions (0.5, 1.0, 5.0, and 10.0 microM) were monitored using mass spectrometry, an over 5-fold increase in m/z 609.3 ion intensity was measured for a separation distance of 14 mm between the electrospray tip and interface capillary inlet, as compared to when the electrospray tip was in its normal position 1 mm in front of the inlet without the amplifier. When a voltage was applied to the air amplifier to further assist in focusing the electrosprayed ions, an approximately 18-fold increase in m/z 609.3 ion intensity was obtained. In addition, a 34-fold reduction in method detection limit was observed.