A method and apparatus are provided for identifying analytes at low
concentrations in a liquid sample. The liquid sample is introduced
through a continuous flow membrane inlet system. The analytes that
permeate the membrane are analyzed by photoionization-time-of-flight mass
spectrometry. The analytes remaining in the liquid sample that do not
permeate the membrane are conducted to a capillary tube inlet that
introduces the liquid sample and other analytes as droplets into the
photoionization zone. Any analytes remaining absorbed or adsorbed on the
membrane are driven through the membrane by application of heat. Analytes
may be analyzed by either resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization
(REMPI) or single photon ionization (SPI), both of which are provided in
the apparatus and can be selected as alternative sources.