Plasmion SICRIT® Ionization Set SC-30

Significance of the Topic

The integration of soft ionization techniques with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) expands analytical capabilities for trace detection, non-target screening and real-time monitoring. The SICRIT® Ionization Set SC-30 offers a plug & play cold plasma source that enhances sensitivity and produces minimal fragmentation, making it valuable for applications ranging from aroma profiling to inline quality control in various industries.

Objectives and Overview

This product note describes the design, operation and application potential of the SICRIT® Ionization Set SC-30. It outlines how the system upgrades any vendor’s LC-MS with a soft ionization source, summarizes key performance features and highlights real-world use cases.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The SICRIT® technology employs flow-through cold plasma generated by an AC high-frequency voltage to ionize analytes directly inside the extended MS inlet. The system comprises:

• Control Unit SC-30: a standalone 100–240 VAC supply providing high-frequency AC (10–50 kHz) for plasma ignition and 24 VDC for optional modules.
• SICRIT® Ion Source: a ring-shaped plasma generator that mounts via quick-lock adapter to standard API inlets.

Operation requires adjusting voltage and frequency to stabilize plasma; no complex geometry optimization is needed. Optional modules include a heated transfer line for direct sampling and a GC/SPME interface for coupling enrichment or chromatographic techniques.

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance highlights include:

• Soft ionization of a broad analyte range, including non-polar compounds, yielding molecular ions with minimal fragmentation.
• Instant detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and direct aroma fingerprinting (e.g., wine analysis) when sampling headspace in real time.
• Enhanced sensitivity and transmission by igniting plasma inside the MS inlet, enabling high-resolution TOF or Orbitrap systems to perform non-target screenings, forensic analyses and trace contamination detection.

These features demonstrate reliable, real-time monitoring for process control, quality assurance and environmental screening without extensive sample preparation.

Benefits and Practical Applications of the Method

By converting an LC-MS into an “electronic nose,” the SICRIT® SC-30 enables:

• Direct and real-time VOC monitoring for food and fragrance industries.
• Inline process monitoring and quality control in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Non-targeted screening for forensic and environmental analysis.

The system’s modular design supports flexible coupling to sampling devices and chromatographic systems.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging possibilities include integration with automated sampling robotics for high-throughput screening, expanded use of alternative carrier gases for selective ionization, and deeper coupling with microfluidic separation techniques. Ongoing developments may extend the applicability to in situ environmental sensing and rapid clinical diagnostics.

Conclusion

The SICRIT® Ionization Set SC-30 combines ease of use, broad analyte coverage and high sensitivity in a compact, vendor-agnostic package. Its soft ionization capability and modular interfaces render it a versatile tool for real-time analyses, non-target screening and advanced LC-MS workflows.

Used Instrumentation

• Control Unit SC-30: high-frequency AC power supply (10–50 kHz), 100–240 VAC input, 24 VDC output.
• SICRIT® Ion Source: ring-shaped cold plasma generator, quick-lock adapter, 6 mm tube fitting.
• Optional Modules: Heated Transfer Line; GC/SPME Module for sample enrichment and chromatographic coupling.