Preparing a Sample

1.       Aqueous-phase samples are injected hydrodynamically into the first analytical chamber with the trapping electric field on.

2.       The electric field is lowered precisely to allow a desired low mobility band of ions to exit the first chamber and enter the second chamber.

3.       Unwanted analyte ion bands with intermediate mobility may be removed by switching the diverter valve and precisely lowering the electric field allowing the ‘undesirables’ to exit the first chamber and enter the waste port.

4.       Remaining high mobility ion bands may be collected in the second chamber by deselecting the diverter valve and further lowering the electric field.

5.       Additional injections or continuous flow may be used to accumulate low abundance materials while holding previous samples in either the first or second trap.

6.       Additional SPUR chambers could be used in series or parallel networks to provide additional separation flexibility for accumulating multiple analytes for collection or analysis.

7.       Trapped analytes can then be washed or extracted with the solvent of your choice and sent to the next stage.