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Title: Method for selective detection of explosives in mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at parts-per-quadrillion level

Abstract

A method for selective detection of volatile and non-volatile explosives in a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at a parts-per-quadrillion level without preconcentration is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of ionizing a carrier gas with an ionization source to form reactant ions or reactant adduct ions comprising nitrate ions (NO.sub.3.sup.-); selectively reacting the reactant ions or reactant adduct ions with at least one volatile or non-volatile explosive analyte at a carrier gas pressure of at least about 100 Ton in a reaction region disposed between the ionization source and an ion detector, the reaction region having a length which provides a residence time (tr) for reactant ions therein of at least about 0.10 seconds, wherein the selective reaction yields product ions comprising reactant ions or reactant adduct ions that are selectively bound to the at least one explosive analyte when present therein; and detecting product ions with the ion detector to determine presence or absence of the at least one explosive analyte.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1213438
Patent Number(s):
9123520
Application Number:
13/437,718
Assignee:
Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2012 Apr 02
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Ewing, Robert G., Atkinson, David A., and Clowers, Brian H. Method for selective detection of explosives in mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at parts-per-quadrillion level. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
Ewing, Robert G., Atkinson, David A., & Clowers, Brian H. Method for selective detection of explosives in mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at parts-per-quadrillion level. United States.
Ewing, Robert G., Atkinson, David A., and Clowers, Brian H. Tue . "Method for selective detection of explosives in mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at parts-per-quadrillion level". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1213438.
@article{osti_1213438,
title = {Method for selective detection of explosives in mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at parts-per-quadrillion level},
author = {Ewing, Robert G. and Atkinson, David A. and Clowers, Brian H.},
abstractNote = {A method for selective detection of volatile and non-volatile explosives in a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at a parts-per-quadrillion level without preconcentration is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of ionizing a carrier gas with an ionization source to form reactant ions or reactant adduct ions comprising nitrate ions (NO.sub.3.sup.-); selectively reacting the reactant ions or reactant adduct ions with at least one volatile or non-volatile explosive analyte at a carrier gas pressure of at least about 100 Ton in a reaction region disposed between the ionization source and an ion detector, the reaction region having a length which provides a residence time (tr) for reactant ions therein of at least about 0.10 seconds, wherein the selective reaction yields product ions comprising reactant ions or reactant adduct ions that are selectively bound to the at least one explosive analyte when present therein; and detecting product ions with the ion detector to determine presence or absence of the at least one explosive analyte.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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