A man-portable, photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer

Abstract

This article discusses a feasibility demonstration for a 30-lb field-portable chemical analysis system with detection capability comparable to that of a benchtop system. Syagen constructed and operated a prototype instrument with the use of a novel atmospheric sampling photoionization source coupled to a quadrupole-ion-trap, time-of-flight mass spectrometer (QitTof). The keys to reducing weight and power were the development of a notebook-computer data-acquisition system and a new low-power ion-trap RF source. Detection limits of 10–100 ppb and 5–50 pg were measured for a variety of compounds including phosphonates and aromatics. An air and liquid sampler was developed and shown to have a response time of 1–10 s, depending on mode of operation. The QitTof analyzer and processor can record mass spectra at 200 Hz, making it suitable for fast gas chromatography. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Field Analyt Chem Technol 4: 204–215, 2000