Performance of a fast atom bombardment source on a quadrupole mass spectrometer

Abstract

A saddle field fast atom bombardment gun was installed on a quadrupole mass spectrometer and its performance evaluated. Only some minor modifications to a standard gas chromatography mass spectrometry system were required to accommodate this source. Using xenon as the bombarding atom, measurements were made with respect to sensitivity, background effects, sample type, calibration of the data system and other parameters pertinent to the operation of a fast atom bombardment source on a quadrupole system. The simplicity of operation and its unique ability to produce gaseous ionic species from highly polar molecules in solution make it an ideal complement to other mass spectrometric ionizing devices.