Systems and methods for analyzing an extracted sample using an immiscible extraction solvent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10559456-B2
Application number	US-201515113945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Feb 11, 2020
Grant date	Feb 11, 2020

Abstract

The invention generally relates to systems and methods for analyzing an extracted sample using an immiscible extraction solvent. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a system for analyzing an analyte in a sample. The system includes an ionization probe and a mass spectrometer. The ionization probe includes a hollow body that optionally includes a distal tip. The hollow body is configured such that there is no substrate within the body and no electrode disposed on a surface of the body. An electrode is at least partially disposed within the hollow body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for analyzing an analyte in a sample, the method comprising:
introducing a solvent into a hollow body comprising a distal tip;
introducing a sample into the hollow body, wherein the solvent does not mix with the sample;
extracting at least one analyte from the sample into the solvent in the hollow body;
applying a voltage to the solvent comprising the extracted analyte in the hollow body so that the analyte is expelled from the distal tip of the body, thereby generating ions of the analyte which are transferred to a mass spectrometer; and
analyzing in the mass spectrometer the ions that have been expelled from the hollow body and that enter the mass spectrometer.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises introducing an agent that imparts a charged function group to the analyte.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is compatible for both the extraction and the ionization of the extracted analyte.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein analyzing comprises introducing the ions to a bench-top mass spectrometer or a miniature mass spectrometer.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the solvent is introduced to the hollow body prior to introduction of the sample.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising mixing the sample and the solvent prior to applying the voltage.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of analytes are extracted into the solvent.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of analytes are differentially extracted into the solvent.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the voltage comprises:
inserting a metal wire through the sample and into the solvent; and
applying the voltage to the solvent via the metal wire.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a nebulizing gas is also applied to the extracted sample.

Assignees

• Purdue Research Foundation

Inventors

• Ouyang Zheng
• Liu Jiangjiang
• Ren Yue
• Mcluckey Morgan

Classifications

• C12Q1/46

  involving cholinesterase · CPC title

• H01J49/0431

  for liquid samples (interfaces to liquid chromatographs G01N30/7233) · CPC title

• H01J49/167 Primary

  Capillaries and nozzles specially adapted therefor; (electrostatic spraying per se B05B5/00) · CPC title

• B01D11/04

  of solutions which are liquid · CPC title

• G01N2333/918

  Carboxylic ester hydrolases (3.1.1) · CPC title