Entwicklung, Konstruktion und Bau einer auf maximalen Ionentransfer optimierten AP-Ionisationsquelle zur massenspektrometrischen Analyse

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Thorsten Benter; Professor Dr. Siegmar Gäb (†); Dr.-Ing. Herwart Hönen
• Subject Area: Analytical Chemistry
• Term: from 2008 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 63383513

The present proposal describes follow-up work as a continuation of the very successful joint effort of the three research groups Analytical, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry of the University Wuppertal, and the Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery of the RWTH Aachen University. The work performed over the past three years, funded by the DFG, resulted in a number of major achievements with regard to a more fundamental understanding and deterministic development of atmospheric pressure ionization (API) sources. A pivotal role played high-quality computational fluid dynamics simulations, which were successfully used as input parameters for ion trajectory calculations. A couple of new generation API sources already operational are used in e.g. the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The main goal of the present proposal is a rigorous continuation, application, and extrapolation of the data and knowledge base assembled in the preceding three years. The present joint research efforts will focus on the development and analytical application of laminar low-flow and actively controlled high-flow API sources. These two novel designs were identified as the most powerful API source types. Preliminary sources at the initial design stage have already proven to be clearly superior to commercially available conventional API sources with regard to sensitivity, stability, and temporal resolution.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Oliver Schmitz