Publications by authors named "Samuel E Tolley"

This article presents a method of simulating molecular transport in capillary gas chromatography (GC) applicable to isothermal, temperature-programmed, and thermal gradient conditions. The approach accounts for parameter differences that can occur across an analyte band including pressure, mobile phase velocity, temperature, and retention factor. The model was validated experimentally using a GC column comprised of microchannels in a stainless-steel plate capable of isothermal, temperature-programmed, and thermal gradient GC separations.

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Fabrication technologies for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) allow miniaturization of conventional benchtop gas chromatography (GC) to portable, palm-sized microfabricated GC (μGC) devices, which are suitable for on-site chemical analysis and remote sensing. The separation performance of μGC systems, however, has not been on par with conventional GC. Column efficiency, peak symmetry and resolution are often compromised by column defects and non-ideal injections.

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This paper examines the separation effects of a moving thermal gradient on a chromatographic column in gas chromatography. This movement of the gradient has a focusing effect on the analyte bands, limiting band broadening in the column. Here we examine the relationship between the slope of this gradient, the velocity of the gradient and the resulting band width.

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A novel gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) based on a miniature toroidal ion trap mass analyzer (TMS) and a low thermal mass GC is described. The TMS system has an effective mass/charge (m/z) range of 50-442 with mass resolution at full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of 0.55 at m/z 91 and 0.

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In radiofrequency ion traps, electric fields are produced by applying time-varying potentials between machined metal electrodes. The electrode shape constitutes a boundary condition and defines the field shape. This paper presents a new approach to making ion traps in which the electrodes consist of two ceramic discs, the facing surfaces of which are lithographically imprinted with sets of concentric metal rings and overlaid with a resistive material.

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We describe a novel radio frequency ion trap mass analyzer based on toroidal trapping geometry and microfabrication technology. The device, called the halo ion trap, consists of two parallel ceramic plates, the facing surfaces of which are imprinted with sets of concentric ring electrodes. Radii of the imprinted rings range from 5 to 12 mm, and the spacing between the plates is 4 mm.

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A miniature ion trap mass analyzer is reported. The described analyzer is a 1/5-scale version of a previously reported toroidal radio frequency (rf) ion trap mass analyzer. The toroidal ion trap operates with maximum rf trapping voltages about 1 kVp-p or less; however despite the reduced dimensions, it retains roughly the same ion trapping capacity as conventional 3D quadrupole ion traps.

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Rapid detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has potential applications in both genetic screening and pharmacogenomics. Planar waveguide fluorescent biosensor technology was employed to detect SNPs using a simple hybridization assay with the complementary strand ("capture oligo") immobilized on the waveguide. This technology allows real-time measurements of DNA hybridization kinetics.

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