Abstract
Sudden sampling introduction into a membrane inlet mass spectrometer
(MIMS) considerably improves the selectivity of the membrane inlet and
is therefore applicable even for compounds with low permeabilities
through a silicone membrane. In this study the basics of cyclic
non-steady-state sudden increase sample injection were studied using a
three-membrane inlet and a portable sector double-focusing mass
spectrometer. The operational parameters of the inlet system providing
the most efficient enrichment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in
air were defined. Simulation of the diffusion process following sudden
sample introduction into the three-membrane inlet was also carried out.
Experimental testing of the three-membrane inlet system with the cyclic
sudden sample injection mode for benzene, toluene, styrene, and xylene
in air was performed. The simulation and the experimental results
demonstrated that, when this mode is used, the VOCs/nitrogen relative
enrichment factor of samples introduced into the mass spectrometer
equipped with a three-membrane inlet is increased by a factor of ∼105
compared with a direct introduction method. This effect may be used to
decrease detection limits of compounds obtained with mass spectrometry
to decrease matrix flow through the inlet at the same detection limits.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 823-831 |
Journal | Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- membrane inlet mass spectrometry
- MIMS
- volatile organic compounds
- VOC