Solvent Flow Research Articles

Diffusive micromixing combined with dynamic in situ laser scattering allows shedding light on lipid nanoparticle precipitation

Pharmaceutical formulations are increasingly based on drug nanoparticles or carrier nanoparticles encapsulating drugs or mRNA molecules. Sizes and monodispersity of the nanoparticles regulate bioavailability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacology. Microfluidic mixers promise unique conditions for their continuous preparation. A novel microfluidic antisolvent precipitation device was realized by two-photon-polymerization with a mixing channel in which the organic phase formed a sheet with a homogeneous thickness of down to 7 μm completely wrapped in the aqueous phase. Homogeneous diffusion through the sheet accelerates mixing. Optical access was implemented to allow in-situ dynamic light scattering. By centering the thin sheet in the microchannel cross-section, two important requirements are met. On the one hand, the organic phase never reaches the channel walls, avoiding fouling and unstable flow conditions. On the other hand, in the sheet positioned at the maximum of the parabolic flow profile the nanoparticle velocities are homogenized which enables flow-compensated Dynamic Light Scattering (flowDLS). These unique features allowed in-situ particle size determination for the first time. Monitoring of lipid nanoparticle precipitation was demonstrated for different rates of solvent and antisolvent flows. This breakthrough innovation will not only enable feedback control of nanoparticle production but also will provide new insights into the dynamics of nanoparticle precipitation.

Elucidating flow-directed 98% CO2 absorption using millimeter-sized coiled flow inverters: Nanocellulose-aided sustainable scope

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations drive the global efforts to discover a sustainable carbon capture method for the reduction of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Concentrated alkanolamine solutions are being used as CO2 capture mediums for batch processes amid several disadvantages, such as energy intensiveness and poor efficiency. In this work, millimeter-sized coiled flow inverters (CFI) have been explored as a point-source CO2 capture tool for highly efficient, continuous operations. Solvent and CO2 gas flow rates are found to dictate the slug flow regime and, more specfically, slug lengths. High interfacial area and residence time remain the driving factors for enhanced CO2 capture using CFI. About 98% CO2 absorption efficiency has been achieved for 3% aqueous diethanolamine solution in CFI . The efficacy of nanocellulose, a sustainable nanomaterial has been unearthed for CO2 capture at low flow rate.

Study of ship-based carbon capture optimization considering multiple evaluation factors and main engine loads

Ship-Based Carbon Capture (SBCC) technology presents a promising approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the marine transportation. Solvent-based carbon capture has emerged as a leading technology for SBCC, primarily due to its low retrofit costs and effectiveness in treating flue gas with low carbon content. However, challenges remain in optimizing system operation efficiency under the variable conditions of ship main engine loads and in understanding the mechanisms by which process parameters influence key evaluation factors. Consequently, this study established a pilot-scale experimental platform for solvent-based SBCC and developed a carbon capture model based on it. The influence of process parameters, such as main engine exhaust flow rate and liquid/gas ratio (L/G), on the evaluation factors was thoroughly explored. With the utilization of Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analysis to quantify the influence of process parameters on the evaluation factors, a multi-objective optimization equation is proposed. The combination of machine learning and optimization algorithms offers an efficient approach for determining the optimal process of the SBCC system under different main engine loads. The research results show that the main engine exhaust flow rate is the most important process parameter affecting the carbon capture rate (CR), with an influence ratio as high as 64.33%. As the main engine exhaust flow rate increases, the maximum CR decreases from 97.84% to 61.13%. Although the extreme value of the regeneration energy consumption (REC) also decreases from 6.66 to 4.42 GJ/t CO2, the solvent flow rate's influence on REC is also significant, with influence ratios of 38.49% and 35.53%, respectively. A data-driven approach examined the optimal operating conditions at eight main engine loads, achieving a carbon capture rate prediction error of only 1.42% and a maximum REC error of only 0.55 GJ/t CO2. This study provides essential guidance for assessing the suitability of SBCC systems.

Simulation of a System to Simultaneously Recover CO2 and Sweet Carbon-Neutral Natural Gas from Wet Natural Gas: A Delve into Process Inputs and Units Performances

The growing need for carbon-neutral energy solutions necessitates the development of efficient systems for carbon dioxide (CO2) recovery and the production of sweet carbon-neutral natural gas (CNNG) from wet natural gas. Despite existing approaches, limitations in process optimization, solvent efficiency, and output purity persist. This study aims to address these gaps by simulating a system for simultaneous recovery of CO2 and CNNG using an integrated three-stage process, modeled in Aspen Plus V8.8. The unique aspect of this work lies in employing the ENRTL-RK base model, coupled with sensitivity analyses to optimize input parameters across 13 interconnected process units, including compressors, heat exchangers, and extraction columns. Key innovations include the novel configuration of units, yielding a recovery efficiency of 95.94% for CNNG and a CO2 purity of 93.185% at optimal conditions, surpassing conventional methods. The performance of the monoethanolamine (MEA) solvent was enhanced by careful adjustment of input parameters, improving its absorption efficiency by 12% compared to standard operational settings. Sensitivity analysis revealed critical parameters such as feed pressure and solvent flow rate as primary drivers for maximizing output efficiency. This study also provides a detailed quantitative assessment of power requirements, with a compressor brake horsepower (BHP) of 18,2605 watts at 110 bar discharge pressure. It addresses the existing research gap by introducing a systematic approach to process optimization, significantly improving the purity and recovery of CNNG and CO2 while minimizing energy consumption. The results not only demonstrate the viability of this process but also provide a foundation for further refinement in sustainable gas processing technologies.

Lignocellulose Treatment Using a Flow-Through Variant of OrganoCat Process.

This study adapts the biphasic OrganoCat system into a flow-through (FT) reactor, using a heated tubular setup where a mixture of oxalic acid and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF) is pumped through beech wood biomass. This method minimizes solvent-biomass contact time, facilitating rapid product removal and reducing the risk of secondary reactions. A comparative analysis with traditional batch processes reveals that the FT system, especially under severe conditions, significantly enhances extraction efficiency, yielding higher amounts of lignin and sugars with reduced solid residue. Notably, the FT system shows partial hydrolysis of the cellulose, which increases with temperature while not producing significant amounts of furfural or 5-HMF, indicating more efficient depolymerization of polysaccharides without substantial sugar degradation. A statistical design of experiments (DOE) using a Box-Behnken design elucidates the influence of process variables (time, solvent flow rate, temperature) on the yield. Key findings highlight reactor temperature as the dominant factor affecting yields, with process time showing a significant but less pronounced impact. This study demonstrates the potential of the FT OrganoCat system for efficient lignocellulosic biomass fractionation and represents an advancement towards continuous lignocellulose processing, contributing to our knowledge of process optimization for improved biorefinery applications.

Influence of Solvent Relative Permittivity in Swab Spray Mass Spectrometry.

The influence of solvent properties on ion generation by swab spray ionization was investigated. The ability of a variety of solvents of different relative permittivity, surface tension, and viscosity to form a stable and reproducible electrospray was examined. It is demonstrated that in swab spray ionization, a crucial balance between solvent composition, applied potential, and the solvent flow fed to the swab head must be maintained. The solvent composition was found to significantly affect the shape of the Taylor cone and the emerging cone jet, which eventually have an impact on the resulting ion yield. The results indicate that the relative permittivity of solvents measured under standard conditions is the main factor governing jet shaping, and consequently, the ionization efficacy. Short jets, which are required for maximum ion yield, were observed for solvents with relative permittivity εr higher than 25. Solvents exhibiting lower relative permittivity required the addition of 20% to 60% methanol to limit the jet length and to avoid the ineffective dripping pulsation. The observed effects were compared to conventional electrospray ionization and paper spray ionization.

Heat-integrated process improvement of petroleum refinery FCC light-ends separation

This research presents a methodology for investigating and proposing operational changes that can improve product recovery, heat recovery, and economics of a gas concentration unit of a FCC plant. The methodology starts by collecting relevant information from an existing plant, followed by development of a simulation model of a gas concentration unit in Aspen HYSYS. Next, the developed model is used to conduct optimisation studies to identify process changes (solvent temperature, operating pressure, solvent flow rate, solvent composition and inter-stage cooling) that improves product recovery, heat recovery, and economics. Key findings from this research includes the following trade-offs: increasing operating pressure from 1300 kPa to 1700 kPa increases gasoline and LPG recovery by 1% and 0.4% respectively whilst heat recovery and cooling water demand increases by 0.5% and 0.1%, leading to total benefit increase of 1%; increase in recycled gasoline flow rate by 9628 kmol/h (20% of initial flow rate) improves recovery of gasoline and LPG by 0.1% and 0.3% and heat recovery and cooling water demand by 18% and 77%, but steam generation decreases by 35%, which results to decrease in benefit of 1%; increasing C6 content of solvent (unstabilized naphtha) by 50 kmol/h increase in gasoline recovery 7.5% and heat recovery and cooling water demand increases by 0.1% and 1%, and benefit increases by 5%; for ambient cooling medium, varying solvent temperature and pumparound return temperature (inter-stage cooling) does not improve product recovery and heat recovery. Analysis of results indicate that high C6 composition in solvent has the highest impact on product recovery, heat recovery, and process economics compared with other degrees of freedom.

Flexibility analysis on absorption-based carbon capture integrated with energy storage

Post-combustion carbon capture in power plants is essential in reducing greenhouse gas emission. As the available heat in the plant is instable in time, it becomes a challenge to maintain the efficient operation of capture system. The lean/rich solvent storage proves to be a potential way for the capture system to keep high CO2 capture rate. However, the performance of the integrated system under different operating conditions is not fully evaluated, especially for the match criterion of lean/rich solvent process. The impact factors of single and coupled operating conditions of solvent storage still remain unclear. In this work, system performance during peak/off-peak period is first evaluated. Results indicates that heat duty, split ratio, solution concentration and absorption solvent flow rate are key factors for CO2 capture rate. Then, system performance under continuous operation is explored at the global CO2 capture rate from 0.918 to 0.978. It demonstrates that maintaining a relatively equal CO2 capture rate during peak/off-peak period efficiently improves the global CO2 capture rate, which can be achieved by adjusting flow rate and split ratio of solvent. Finally, volume and cost of integrated CO2 capture with solvent storage are compared with that of CO2 capture with heat storage. The volume of solvent storage decreases by over 69% and the cost of solvent storage decreases by over 84%, which indicates a promising application in terms of technical and economic aspects.

The physical basis for solvent flow in organic solvent nanofiltration.

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) is an emerging membrane technology that could revolutionize chemical separations in numerous vital industries. Despite its significance, there remains a lack of fundamental understanding of solvent transport mechanisms in OSN membranes. Here, we use an extended Flory-Rehner theory, nonequilibrium molecular dynamic simulations, and organic solvent transport experiments to demonstrate that solvent flow in OSN membranes is driven by a pressure gradient. We show that solvent molecules migrate as clusters through interconnected pathways within the membrane pore structure, challenging the widely accepted diffusion-based view of solvent transport in OSN. We further reveal that solvent permeance is dependent on solvent affinity to the OSN membrane, which, in turn, controls the membrane pore structure. Our fundamental insights lay the scientific groundwork for the development of next-generation OSN membranes.

Direct air capture with amino acid solvent: Operational optimization using a crossflow air‐liquid contactor

AbstractDirect air capture (DAC) is a negative emission technology for removing CO2 from the atmosphere to maintain the CO2 level within a reasonable range so as to address greenhouse effects. In this study, the operational optimization of lab‐scale DAC has been investigated using a crossflow air‐liquid contactor loaded with a three dimensionally printed Gyroid packing structure and a potassium sarcosinate solvent. The effects of various parameters, including feed air flow rate, liquid solvent flow rate, contactor geometry, and ambient temperature, are examined. The results demonstrate that the Gyroid packing design achieves comparable CO2 capture performance to conventional packed beds but with a significantly lower pressure drop of up to 77.8%, suggesting its potential as an efficient and cost‐effective solution for gas–liquid contactors in DAC. Additionally, the study explores the climate impact on CO2 capture performance and finds that as the air temperature increases from 35 to 95°F at a fixed relative humidity of 80%, the CO2 capture rate increased from 23.2% to 46.8% with better stability. The research highlights the importance of optimizing contactor design and operational conditions to improve the CO2 capture rate and feasibility of DAC systems as a negative emission technology for addressing greenhouse effects.

Scaling the electrophoretic separation of rapeseed proteins and oleosomes

Gentle extraction of ingredients from raw materials is essential for high-quality food ingredients and can lead to reducing the use of water, chemicals, and energy in the extraction. For example, a simple aqueous extraction can yield a mixture of oil, in the form of a natural oil-in-water oleosome emulsion, and proteins. The oleosomes and proteins can then be further separated in a next step. We explored a continuous counter-current electrophoretic process that separates oleosomes and proteins based on their electrophoretic mobility by balancing an electric field with an opposing solvent flow. The separation is accomplished through the retention of the component with the higher electrophoretic mobility, the oleosomes, and the passage of the proteins, having lower mobility. The fluxes of oleosomes and proteins from rapeseed, after aqueous extraction, were analyzed as a function of the electric field (0–75 Vcm−1) and 1.2 ± 0.1 mLmin-1 solvent flow rate. At 50 Vcm−1, the permeation flux of proteins was 10-fold higher than that of oleosomes, as shown by the selectivity increasing to 9.84 from 1.90 at 25 Vcm−1. The difference in their flux promises to become more pronounced under an increasing treatment duration, but two main technical limitations, electrolysis-based pH alteration and membrane fouling, restrict further separation. We expect the listed challenges can be mitigated with the addition of electrode rinse chambers and the use of larger pore size membranes.

Rapid purification and scale-up of tilianin using counter-current chromatography with rectangular horizontal tubing

In counter-current chromatography (CCC), linear scale-up is an ideal amplification strategy. However, when transferring from analytical to predictable preparative processes with high throughput, linear scale-up would be challenging due to limitations imposed by differences in instrument parameters, such as gravitational forces, tubing cross-section area, tubing length, column volume and flow rate. Some effective scale-up strategies have been studied for different instrument parameters, but so far, these scale-up works have only been tested on standard circular (SC) tubing.The previous research of our group found that rectangular horizontal (RH) tubing can double the separation efficiency compared with conventional SC tubing, and has industrial production potential. This paper used the separation of tilianin from Dracocephalum moldavica L. as an example to demonstrate how to scale up the optimized process from analytical SC tubing to preparative RH tubing. After systematic optimization of solvent systems, sample concentration and flow rate on the analytical CCC, the optimized parameters obtained were successfully transferred to the preparative CCC. The results showed that a crude sample of 2.07 g was successfully separated using a solvent system of n-hexane - ethyl acetate - ethanol - water (1:4:1:5, v/v/v/v) in reversed phase mode, and the three consecutive separations produced a total of 380 mg tilianin in 75 min with high purities of 98.3%, as analyzed by HPLC. The total throughput achieved from the analytical to semi-preparative scale was improved by 138 times (from 12 mg/h to 1.66 g/h), while the column volume was increased by only 46.5 times (from 15.5 mL to 720 mL). This is the successful application of CCC for the separation and purification of tilianin. Given that SC tubing is the traditional configuration for CCC columns, this study is a necessary step to prove the applicability of RH tubing columns for routine use and potential large-scale industrial applications.

Structural, Solvent Quality Changes and Flow Regulation through PEO-Grafted Gold Nanopore

Structural, Solvent Quality Changes and Flow Regulation through PEO-Grafted Gold Nanopore

Post-combustion carbon capture process modeling, simulation, and assessment of synergistic effect of solvents

Post-combustion carbon capture appears to be a promising solution to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) from power plants that generate electricity using either coal or natural gas. In addition, carbon capture process efficiency, capacity, and energy consumption have become challenging against the performance of the capture process. However, synergistic effect due to solvents blend has gained attention to reduce the process energy consumption and enhance process efficiency. In this study, blends of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and piperazine (PZ) at different concentrations were investigated using a validated post-combustion capture process model using Aspen HYSYS. Results were compared with 30 wt% monoethanolamine (MEA) as reference case. The effective process variables are concentration of solvents, the amount of water and solvent in the makeup section, viscosity of solvent, energy consumed in different process stages, and the amount of lean solvent flow rate. These variables were studied against fixed process variables using rate-based model. The study shows that using (43 wt% MDEA/7 wt% PZ) for post-combustion carbon capture needs 2.53 MJ/kgCO2 regeneration energy for 88.5% process efficiency compared to 4.003 MJ/kgco2 for 30 wt% MEA without the need for any process modifications. In addition, it was found that solvents synergistic effect contributes to resolving the drawbacks of post-combustion capture that will enable the high utilization of the process and contribution to reduce the consequences effect of climate change. Therefore, the study will help policymakers, industries and encourage researchers towards the large-scale commissioning of blended solvent -based post-combustion capture process.

Modeling, Simulation, and Membrane Wetting Estimation in Gas-Liquid Contacting Processes Including Shell-Side Reaction: Biogas Upgrading Using DEA Solution.

The basic principles of a steady-state mass transfer model and the resistance-in-series film model are assessed with the aid of a series of experiments in a gas-liquid contact membrane mini-module (3 M Liqui-Cel MM-1.7 × 5.5) using an aqueous solution of diethanolamine (DEA) of 0.25 M (mol/L) for biogas upgrading. Experimental data show that CO2 removal may exceed 67% and reach 100% in combination with the highest possible recovery of CH4 when employing biogas flow rates in the range of 2.8 × 10-5 - 3.6 × 10-5 m3/s and solvent flow rates within 0.47 × 10-5 - 0.58 × 10-5 m3/s. For the experimental data set, a correlation has been developed, effectively interpolating CO2 removal with the gas and liquid flow rates. The wetting values calculated are concentrated close to each other for the same liquid flow rate without considerably depending on the gas flow rate, especially when applying the Hikita-Yun (reaction rate-shell-side correlation) compared with the Hikita-Costello pair. Furthermore, the calculated wetting diminishes with increasing liquid flow rate, a result that is consistent with previous modeling attempts and relevant literature indications. The assumption of enhanced mass transfer in the liquid-filled part of the membrane pores due to the reaction is scrutinized, leading to objectionable computational wetting values. It is shown that for a concentration of DEA equal to 0.25 M the Hatta numbers and the enhancement factors are not equal in the whole reaction path; thus, the choice of the shell-side correlation has an appreciable impact on the overall analysis, especially for the determination of the wetting values.

Tuning parameters of single quadrupole mass detector hyphenated to supercritical fluid chromatography for enantioseparation of synthetic cathinones

In our previous paper, we introduced a new method for the enantioseparation of cathinones on chiral zwitterion ion exchangers by SFC-ESI-MS with an inverse make-up solvent gradient. The inverse gradient enabled us to stabilize electrospray ionization while simultaneously increasing MS response. In this study, we fine-tuned our previously optimized SFC-ESI-MS method and compared its efficiency with that of the default ESI-MS method. To enhance analyte detection, we designed a complex series of experiments in which all combinations of the following three parameters were evaluated: cone voltage (5 to 27 V), probe temperature (250 to 550 °C) and capillary voltage for positive ionization (0.3 to 1.5 kV). After optimization, various ratios of the make-up solvent (methanol/water/formic acid) introduced before entering the ESI ion source were also tested. Despite this comprehensive testing regime, there were no significant differences between the results obtained for the tuned and default ESI-MS parameters. Similarly, the most suitable make-up solvent composition was the originally used ratio of 90/10/0.1 (v/v/v). These results reinforce the findings of our previous paper, in which we optimized the make-up solvent flow rate and showed its significant impact on ESI-MS response.

Intensification of the CO2-capturing methanol steam reforming process: A comprehensive analysis of energy, economic and environmental impacts

The methanol (MeOH) steam reforming (MSR) process plays an important role in the MeOH-based international renewable energy supply chain. To address the challenges related to the high cost and substantial CO2 emissions linked to the state-of-the-art integrated MSR process, this study aims to propose and enhance an intensified MSR process focusing on energy utilization, economic viability and environmental impact. Aside from the MSR process, the overall scenario also includes the water–gas-shift reaction (WGS) process, CO2 capture using amine-based methods, liquefaction, and hydrogen purification through pressure-swing adsorption. Based on this study, apparent enhancements of the state-of-the-art MSR process can be achieved by adjusting key process variables, especially those related to the CO2 capture process, and by incorporating various intensification strategies, including heat integration (with feed-effluent heat exchangers) between the MSR and the WGS processes, implementing a side-draw intercooling structure of the CO2 absorber, splitting the rich solvent flow to the CO2 stripper, and employing a multi-stage CO2 stripper with vapor recompression. Compared to the state-of-the-art MSR process in the literature, the intensified MSR process produces ultra-pure hydrogen (99.99 mol%) as a main product while reduces 6.2 % of the shared cost (from 191.0 USD/t-MeOH to 179.1 USD/t-MeOH), increases the overall carbon capture rate by 3 % (from 86.73 % to 89.99 %), and reduces the direct CO2 emission by approximately 25 % (from 1.41 t-CO2/ t-MeOH to 1.06 t-CO2/ t-MeOH). Within a MeOH-based international renewable energy supply chain, these enhancements can also significantly lower the imported cost of electricity from 105.9 USD/MWh to 95.5 USD/MWh.

Heat transfer simulation of reline flowing in an elliptic shaped duct: A deep eutectic solvent

Deep Eutectic solvents have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional solvents due to their unique properties and applications. The flow of deep eutectic solvents in various industrial processes has garnered significant attention due to their versatile applications in fields ranging from chemical engineering to energy storage. This study presents a comprehensive mathematical model aimed at elucidating the intricate behavior of eutectic solvent flow within an elliptic duct, a geometric configuration relevant to many real-world systems. In this article, the deep eutectic solvent is composed of choline chloride–urea and is also called Reline. The proposed mathematical model accounts for the complex interplay of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and elliptic duct geometry. Key components of the model include the Navier-Stokes equations, which describe the fluid flow, coupled with heat transfer equations to account for temperature variations within the system. The model also considers the phase change behavior of the eutectic solvent, which may exhibit solidification or crystallization phenomena under certain conditions. Numerical simulations and analytical solutions are employed to investigate various aspects of eutectic solvent flow within elliptic ducts, such as velocity profiles, pressure distributions, temperature gradients, and phase transition phenomena. The study explores the influence of key parameters, including the Reynolds number, the aspect ratio of the duct, and the thermophysical properties of the eutectic solvent, on the system’s behavior. From the results, it was clearly observed that the velocity at the narrow region decreased as the pressure raised and the Reynold’s number profile indicated the presence of turbulent flow behavior.

Comparison of Different Preparation Techniques of Thermophoretic Swimmers and Their Propulsion Velocity.

The motion of partly gold (Au)-coated Janus particles under laser irradiation is caused by self-thermophoresis. Despite numerous studies addressing this topic, the impact of the preparation method and the degree of coverage of the particle with Au on the resulting thermophoretic velocity has not yet been fully understood. A detailed understanding of the most important tuning parameters during the preparation process is crucial to design Janus particles that are optimized for Au coverage to receive a high thermophoretic velocity. In this study, we explore the influence of the fabrication process, which changes the Au cap size, on the resulting self-propulsion behavior of partly Au-coated polystyrene particles (Au-PS). Additionally, the impact of an underlying adhesion chromium layer is investigated. In addition to the most commonly used qualitative SEM and EDX measurements, we propose a novel and fast technique utilizing AFM studies to quantify the cap size. This non-invasive technique can be used to determine both the size and the maximum thickness of the Au cap. The Au cap size was systematically varied in a range between about 36 and 74% by different preparation strategies. Nevertheless, we showed that the differing Au cap sizes of the Janus particles in this range have no obvious effect on the thermophoretic velocity. This is a surprising result since one would expect an effect of the Au cap size due to different solvent flows around the Janus particles and is attributed to an additional torque near the surface of the measuring cell.

Advancing mass spectrometry-based chemical imaging: A noncontact continuous flow surface probe in mass spectrometry for enhanced signal detection and spatial resolution

A new method has been developed for mass spectrometric imaging of small molecules and proteins on tissue or in thinly sliced materials. A laser desorption Venturi electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer was developed for molecular imaging. This method combines laser desorption (LD) and electrospray ionization (ESI) systems before a mass spectrometer (MS). To carry out laser desorption, samples are excited with a laser from the back side of a glass substrate. The desorbed molecules or particles are then captured by a solvent flow. In the ESI system, these desorbed particles and molecules are ionized. The spray part of the solvent system consists of two capillaries: one delivers solvent to the sample plate sides to capture desorbed molecules and particles, and the other carries the solution to the mass spectrometry side using the Venturi effect. A 2D stage facilitates sampling. The system is designed to minimize the sample size after desorption using a 355 nm diode laser, and it is optimized for molecules of various sizes, including organic molecules, amino acids, and proteins. Despite challenging atmospheric conditions for protein desorption, this specialized design enables the collection of protein spectra. The amino acids and other small molecules showed high sensitivity in the MSI measurements. This innovative MS imaging system can be directly applied to real tissue systems and other plant samples to visualize the molecular level distributions.