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Quantification of hydrogen sulphide in humid air by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry
Author(s) -
Španel Patrik,
Smith David
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0231(20000715)14:13<1136::aid-rcm998>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - chemistry , mass spectrometry , ion , hydrogen sulphide , analytical chemistry (journal) , hydrogen , chromatography , sulfur , organic chemistry
We report the results of a study of the reactions of H 3 O + , NO + and O 2 +· ions with H 2 S. This study was undertaken to provide a thorough understanding of the ion chemistry required for accurate quantification of H 2 S in humid air by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT‐MS). It shows that slow reactions occur between H 3 S + , the primary product ions of the H 3 O + /H 2 S reaction, and the abundant H 2 O molecules present in humid air and breath. These reactions disturb somewhat the quantification of H 2 S by this analytical method, but the kinetic data obtained in this study facilitate precise quantification of H 2 S in humid air. This study also shows that NO + does not react with H 2 S, and that O 2 +· does react rapidly with H 2 S, but the product H 2 S +· ions react rapidly with H 2 O. Thus, NO + and O 2 +· cannot be used as precursor ion for analysis of H 2 S in moist air by SIFT‐MS. A sample SIFT mass spectrum is shown from which H 2 S and several other volatile compounds have been quantified in a sample of cow rumen gas. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.