Atmospheric sampling glow discharge ionization source for the determination of trace organic compounds in ambient air
A new atmospheric sampling ion source, based on the establishment of a glow discharge in ambient air drawn into a region of reduced pressure, is described. The source is simple, rugged, and relatively maintenance-free, exhibits a very short memory, and is extremely sensitive for compounds with high proton affinities, high electron affinities, high gas-phase acidities, and/or low ionization potentials. The effects of discharge voltage and ion source pressure on the nature of the mass spectra observed are described. These operating parameters affect the absolute number of ions observed and, particularly for positive ions, affect the distribution of the reagent ions and the degree of fragmentation. For illustrative purposes, the limit of detection of dynamic range of the ion source coupled with a mass spectrometer are discussed for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. For the present system, a detection limit of 1-2 parts per trillion and a linear dynamic range of at least 6 orders of magnitude are observed.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 6334143
- Journal Information:
- Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 60:20
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Atmospheric sampling glow discharge ionizataion and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry for explosives vapor detection
Liquid Sampling-Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge (LS-APGD) Ionization Source for Elemental Mass Spectrometry: Preliminary Parametric Evaluation and Figures of Merit
Related Subjects
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR
QUALITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
AIR SAMPLERS
DESIGN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
AIR POLLUTION MONITORS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
ION SOURCES
TRACE AMOUNTS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DATA
EQUIPMENT
FLUIDS
GASES
INFORMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
NUMERICAL DATA
SAMPLERS
SPECTROSCOPY
400102* - Chemical & Spectral Procedures
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)