Thermal separation to facilitate Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) of mixtures

We explore a thermal separation technique for use with Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART). By applying gas temperature ramping, we are able to disburse a mixture of compounds in time. The three components were selected to create a challenging mixture that would not likely be discerned solely using exact mass capabilities. While the thermal separation technique is of low resolution, it preserves the inherent rapid, non-contact, ambient characteristics of the ion source. Programmed thermal desorption separates a mixture of compounds in time preserving the inherent rapid, non-contact, ambient characteristics of DART.