Continuous and stopped flow EPR spectrometer based on a loop gap resonator

A continuous and stopped flow EPR spectrometer based on a new loop gap resonator operating at X band is described. The important features of the instrument are: (1) very small amounts of material are consumed in both stopped and continuous flow modes of operation, (2) dead times on the order of 4 ms for stopped flow and 1 ms for continuous flow are realized with a very narrow age distribution in the sample compartment, and (3) the dead times and, hence, sample age are highly reproducible and independent of viscosity due to the use of a positive displacement syringe ram. The performance of the instrument is evaluated using the decay of ascorbate radical generated by Ce(iv) oxidation and reduction of nitroxides by ascorbic acid.