Dart (direct analysis in real time) is an ion source that fits many LC-MS instruments and enables analysis of samples on surfaces in real time without any sample preparation
The source operates at atmospheric pressure and produces protonated molecular ions with little or no fragmentation making identification simple and straightforward by exact mass measurement or MSMS.
Dart ionises using neutral 'metastable' helium atoms.
No reagents, solvents or optimisation of parameters is required.
The only variable parameter is the temperature of the helium gas stream.
For chemists synthesising new compounds or monitoring reaction pathways, Dart provides rapid walk-up and use identification without extraction, separation or sample clean-up.
Samples such as urine or plasma can be analysed directly with no cleanup required.
Tablets can be sampled intact to identify impurities or for verification of authenticity.
For forensic applications, gunshot residues from clothing or accelerants on carpets can be analysed without the need for extraction from the solid matrix.
Dart was invented by Jeol in the USA and Jeol supplies the Dart for all Jeol mass spectrometers worldwide.
Concentrating on a core expertise of mass spectrometry, KR Analytical also supplies AP/Maldi ion sources from MassTech, quadrupole systems from Extrel, SIFT-MS instruments from Instrument Science, nitrogen generators from Texol Products and syringe pumps from KD Scientific.
