Compact ultrafast orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer for on-line gas analysis by electron impact ionization and soft single photon ionization using an electron beam pumped rare gas excimer lamp as VUV-light source.

Orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometers (oaTOFMS), which are exhibiting a pulsed orthogonal extraction of ion bunches into the TOF mass analyzer from a continuous primary ion beam, are well-suited for continuous ionization methods such as electron impact ionization (EI). Recently an electron beam pumped rare gas excimer lamp (EBEL) was introduced, which emits intensive vacuum UV (VUV) radiation at, e.g., 126 nm (argon excimer) and is well suited as the light source for soft single photon ionization (SPI) of organic molecules. In this paper, a new compact oaTOFMS system which allows switching between SPI, using VUV-light from an EBEL-light source, and conventional EI is described. With the oaTOFMS system, EBEL-SPI and EI mass spectral transients can be recorded at very high repetition rates (up to 100 kHz), enabling high duty cycles and therefore good detection efficiencies. By using a transient recorder card with the capability to perform on-board accumulation of the oaTOF transients, final mass spectra with a dynamic range of 106 can be saved to the hard disk at a rate of 10 Hz. As it is possible to change the ionization modes (EI and SPI) rapidly, a comprehensive monitoring of complex gases with highly dynamic compositions, such as cigarette smoke, is possible. In this context, the EI based mass spectra address the bulk composition (compounds such as water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc. in the up to percentage concentration range) as well as some inorganic trace gases such as argon, sulfur dioxide, etc. down to the low ppm level. The EBEL-SPI mass spectra on the other hand are revealing the organic composition down to the lower ppb concentration range

Detection of organic products of polymer pyrolysis by thermogravimetry-supersonic jet-skimmer time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TG-Skimmer-SPI-TOFMS) using an electron beam pumped rare gas excimer VUV-light source (EBEL) for soft photo ionisation.

A commercial thermogravimetry-supersonic jet-skimmer quadrupole mass spectrometer system (TG-Skimmer-QMS, Netzsch GmbH, Germany) was successfully converted for soft single photon ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometric (SPI-TOFMS) detection of organic compounds. VUV light for SPI was generated by an electron beam pumped argon excimer light source (EBEL; E (photon) = 9.8 eV). Furthermore, the versatility of the system was conserved, as high temperature TG and DSC measurements as well as electron ionisation mass spectrometry for the detection of inorganic compounds are still possible. The new system was tested with two polymers and a hydrocarbon mixture (diesel). It was demonstrated that aliphatic and aromatic organic compounds can be detected without fragmentation. Thus the system allows the recording of a readily interpretable organic signature of, e.g. thermal polymer decomposition. The thermal degradation of polystyrene shows a rich signature of the monomer, some oligomers and minor products of irregular cleavings of carbon chains. Polycarbonate exhibits a thermal decomposition fingerprint which is dominated by products of bisphenol A. The bisphenol A monomer, however, is also detectable

Influence of sulphur addition on emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during biomass combustion.

Emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the flue gas of a bark fuelled combustion facility were monitored in real time by time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization. Sampling and on-line analysis could be maintained up to more than six hours consecutively, providing an insight in the aromatic profile of gaseous emissions as a function of varying combustion conditions. Naphthalene concentrations were quantified by determining a response factor of the ionization signal relative to toluene, which served as an external standard. Limits of detection of 1 ppb could be achieved with a time resolution of ten seconds. The emission of PAH occurred in peaks displaying exceeding levels of concentration. Between such emission peaks PAH concentration could drop to ground level near the limit of detection. Addition of sulphur to the combustion chamber - either as ammonium sulphate solution or elemental sulphur pellets - caused a significant decrease in the number of emission peaks, yielding an overall diminishment of average PAH concentration up to 88%. This was accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in concentration of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds, indicating an improvement in combustion quality after sulphur injection

Investigation of different crude oils applying thermal analysis/mass spectrometry with soft photoionisation.

A variety of crude oil samples have been investigated by the combined methods of thermal analysis and mass spectrometry by means of a newly developed prototype of a thermogravimetry-single photon ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometer coupling (TG-SPI-TOFMS). Single photon ionisation (SPI) was conducted utilising a novel electron beam pumped argon excimer lamp (EBEL) as photon source, and a TOFMS with orthogonal acceleration has been applied for the detection of the mass to charge signals. The advantage of the soft SPI technique over EI for the analysis of such complex samples could be clearly demonstrated, as the aliphatic hydrocarbons present in crude oil may be detected via their respective molecular ion signals, not showing the intense fragmentation typical for EI spectra of this substance class. The application of SPI revealed furthermore two distinct decomposition regions, dominated by evaporation and pyrolysis processes, respectively. Moreover, different crude oils could be distinguished by TA/SPI mass spectra due to their unique molecular signatures

Hyphenation of a thermobalance to soft single photon ionisation mass spectrometry for evolved gas analysis in thermogravimetry (TG-EGA).

The potential of hyphenating thermogravimetry (TG) and soft photo ionisation mass spectrometry (EBEL-SPI-MS) for fundamental and applied research and material analysis has been demonstrated by a newly developed TG-SPI quadrupole MS coupling (TG-SPI-QMS). Thermal decomposition of three common plastics, polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) has been studied. While the decomposition of PE and PS in inert atmosphere takes place in a one step process (main mass loss at about 490 and 420 A degrees C, respectively), PVC decomposes in a two step mechanism. The organic signature of the PE decomposition shows homologous series of alkenes and polyenes, while PS is forming mainly styrene mono- and oligomers. In the PVC decomposition, firstly hydrogen chloride (HCl) is eliminated in a hydro-dechlorination reaction (1st mass loss step: 285-305 A degrees C), this is accompanied by the emission of the carbon skeletons of small aromatics (predominately benzene and naphthalene). In the second step (2nd mass loss step: 490-510 A degrees C), the residual cross-linked polyolefin moieties decompose under release of heavily alkylated aromatics, including larger PAH. Chlorinated aromatics are formed only in trace levels

Evolved gas analysis by single photon ionization-mass spectrometry.

The applicability of thermogravimetry (TG) coupled to single photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TG-SPI-TOFMS) for evolved gas analysis (EGA) of coffee is demonstrated in this study. Coffee is a chemically well-known complex food product of large scientific and commercial interest. The roasting process of single green coffee beans (Arabica, Robusta) was simulated in the TG-SPI-TOFMS device, and the chemical composition of the evolved roasting gases was monitored on-line. Additionally, roasted and ground coffee powders of different types and brands as well as instant coffee were successfully investigated. For example, the diterpenes cafestol and kahweol can be detected among many other roasting products. These compounds can be of particular interest for quality control of coffee. It is shown that kahweol can be used as a tracer compound to discriminate arabica coffee species from robusta species

Evolved gas analysis (EGA) in TG and DSC with single photon ionisation mass spectrometry (SPI-MS: Molecular organic signatures from pyrolysis of soft and hard wood, coal, crude oil and ABS polymer.

A combined thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry device (TG/DSC) was coupled to single photon ionisation mass spectrometry (SPI-MS) for evolved gas analysis (EGA). Single photon ionisation (SPI) was performed with a new type of VUV light source, the so called electron beam pumped rare gas excimer lamp (EBEL). SPI does not fragment molecules upon the ionisation process. Thus the molecular mass signature of the evolving gases from thermal composition of carbonaceous material can be directly on-line recorded. In this work the thermo-analytical data and the SPI-MS information on the released organics is presented and discussed for various samples. Namely biomass (soft and hard wood), fossil fuel (crude oil and coal) as well as a complex polymer (ABS) are investigated. The general potential of hyphenating thermal analysis and soft photo ionisation mass spectrometry (EBEL-SPI-MS) for fundamental and applied research and material analysis is discussed

A fast vacuum ultraviolet absorption array spectrometer as a fast and selective detector for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography: Concept and first results.

Fast and selective detectors are very interesting for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). This is particularly true if the detector system can provide additional spectroscopic information on the compound structure and/or functionality. Other than mass spectrometry (MS), only optical spectroscopic detectors are able to provide selective spectral information. However, until present the application of optical spectroscopy technologies as universal detectors for GC×GC has been restricted mainly due to physical limitations such as insufficient acquisition speed or high detection limits. A recently developed simultaneous-detection spectrometer working in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region of 125 to 240 nm overcomes these limitations and meets all the criteria of a universal detector for GC×GC. Peak shape and chromatographic resolution is preserved and unique spectral information, complementary to mass spectrometry data, is gained. The power of this detector is quickly recognized as it has the ability to discriminate between isomeric compounds or difficult to separate structurally related isobaric species, thus, it provides additional selectivity. A further promising feature of this detector is the data analysis concept of spectral filtering, which is accomplished by targeting special electronic transitions that allows for a fast screening of GC×GC chromatograms for designated compound classes