Micromass Quattro Ultima, User Manual

Page: 150 / 227

Solvent Flow Rate
µl/min
Desolvation Temp
°C
Desolvation Gas Flow
Rate
litres/hour
<10 100 to 120 200 to 250
10 to 20 120 to 250 200 to 400
20 to 50 250 to 350 200 to 400
>50 350 to 400 500 to 750
Higher desolvation temperatures give increased sensitivity. However increasing the
temperature above the range suggested reduces beam stability. Increasing the gas flow
rate higher than the quoted values leads to unnecessarily high nitrogen consumption.
Caution: Do not operate the desolvation heater for long periods of time without
a gas flow. To do so could damage the source.
Cone Gas
The cone gas reduces the intensity of solvent cluster ions and adduct ions. The cone
gas flow rate should be increased until solvent cluster ions and/or adduct ions are
reduced as much as possible without diminishing the intensity of the ion of interest,
normally (M+H)
+
.
Typical cone gas flow rates are in the range 100 to 300 litres per hour.
To monitor the flow rate,
select
the
Source
window on
the tune page and observe the
Gas Flows readback
window.
Purge Gas
The purge gas is not necessary for
most electrospray applications. It
allows purging of the source
volume to remove excessive
solvent vapour.
Purge gas is enabled simply by
removing the blanking plug from
the outlet situated within the source
enclosure.
Purge gas flow rate is a constant fraction (30% ) of the total desolvation gas flow.
Electrospray
Page 150
Quattro Ultima
User's Guide
Purge Gas
Outlet (Plugged)
Cone
Gas