Liquid sample introduction method and liquid sample introduction device

Abstract

The other end of an individual sample supply channel one end of which is connected to a gas buffer container the inside of which is empty is connected to one sub-port of a valve that selects one of standard samples to be supplied to an ESI probe. During analysis, the standard sample stored in one of liquid sample containers is selected by switching a connection state of the valve. The standard sample supplied by being pushed by a gas sent to the liquid sample containers through liquid supply gas branch channels is sent to the ESI probe through a sample supply main channel. At the time of finishing analysis, when the valve is switched such that the sub-port and a main port are communicatively connected, a nitrogen gas is sent to the sample supply main channel, and the remaining liquid is discharged.

1 . A liquid sample introduction device configured to send a liquid sample and a nebulizing gas to an ionization probe of an ion source in an ion analysis device and to nebulize the liquid sample from a tip of the ionization probe with the help of the nebulizing gas, the device comprising:
 a) a liquid sample container which is a closed container in which a liquid sample is stored;   b) a gas supply auxiliary path connected at one end to a middle of a path of the nebulizing gas to the ion source and branched into sub-paths which are connected to the liquid sample container above a liquid level and one of a plurality of inlet ports of a channel switching unit;   c) the channel switching unit configured to selectively connect one outlet port and one of the plurality of inlet ports to each other;   d) a common sample supply channel one end of which is connected to the ionization probe and another end is connected to the outlet port of the channel switching unit;   e) an individual sample supply channel one end of which is connected to the liquid sample container so as to be positioned below a liquid level of the liquid sample and another end is connected to one of the plurality of inlet ports of the channel switching unit; and   f) a control unit configured to switch connection of the channel switching unit such that the outlet port and the inlet port connected to the gas supply auxiliary path are connected to each other at a time of finishing analysis in the ion analysis device.