Seamless analysis of liquid samples by coupling a thermal desorption chip with ion mobility spectrometry
摘要
A novel coupling of a miniaturized thermal desorption chip (TDC) with a flexible microtube plasma (FµTP) ionization source and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) enables direct, solvent-free analysis of a liquid sample. The integrated TDC-FµTP-IMS system combines sample introduction, preconcentration, and time-resolved desorption via adjustable temperature gradients. Quantitative analysis of a ketone mixture demonstrated excellent linearity and detection limits between 34 µg L−1 and 79 µg L−1. In addition, N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone was successfully quantified from a liquid sample without manual preparation. The method provides a fast, sensitive, and selective approach for direct liquid-phase IMS applications.
Graphical abstract