Direct sampling ion trap mass spectrometry for the rapid determination of volatile organics in environmental matrices
Analytical methods are currently being developed for the rapid determination of part-per-billion or lower levels of volatile organics in water, soil, air, and oil samples using direct sampling in combination with a rf quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS). Features of the ITMS which are important to the success of these applications include the ability to perform selective chemical ionization, high efficiency collision induced dissociation (MS/MS) experiments, excellent instrument reliability and tolerance to relatively high operating pressures. Excellent detection limits, linearity of response, and reproducibility have been demonstrated for the determination of volatiles in water, soil, and air. Because no chromatography is used, sample turn-around is typically less than 5 minutes. Direct sampling is accomplished with a split-open-split capillary restrictor interface which has been designed to accept a wide variety of sampling devices. Volatiles in water can be determined without any sample preparation simply by direct purge with helium into the mass spectrometer sample interface. A helium flow rate of approximately 100 ml/min through a sparging device enables reproducible purging of volatiles from a 15 ml water sample in less than 3 minutes. Soil samples are prepared by adding 15 ml of distilled water to 5 g of soil to form a slurry. Chlorinated solvents have been successfully purged from samples of used motor oil without any sample preparation. Volatile organics in air may be determined either by direct sampling or by preconcentration on a resin trap followed by direct thermal desorption into the ITMS. Direct air sampling has an estimated detection limit of approximately 1 ppB, while preconcentration is effective for ppT or lower levels of constituents. 5 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 5881902
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8907123-1; ON: DE89015358
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: EPA waste testing and quality assurance symposium, Washington, DC, USA, 24-28 Jul 1989; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIR
SAMPLING
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DETECTION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SOILS
WATER
FLOW RATE
HELIUM
HYDROCARBONS
VOLATILITY
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RARE GASES
SPECTROSCOPY
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)