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A coaxially heated membrane introduction mass spectrometry interface for the rapid and sensitive on‐line measurement of volatile and semi‐volatile organic contaminants in air and water at parts‐per‐trillion levels
Author(s) -
Thompson Alexander J.,
Creba A. Skye,
Ferguson Robyn M.,
Krogh Erik T.,
Gill Christopher G.
Publication year - 2006
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/rcm.2551
Subject(s) - chemistry , polydimethylsiloxane , mass spectrometry , analytical chemistry (journal) , chromatography , analyte , parts per notation , volatile organic compound , membrane , biochemistry , organic chemistry
A coaxially heated membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) sampling interface is presented that demonstrates improved on‐line performance for the direct measurement of semi‐volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in air and water samples at parts‐per‐trillion levels. The device is based on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) capillary hollow fibre membrane (HFM) in a pneumatically assisted ‘flow‐over’ configuration that is resistively heated on the membrane interior via a coaxial nichrome wire, establishing a thermal gradient counter to the analyte concentration gradient. This arrangement allows for continuous and/or pulsed heating modes, affording excellent sensitivity for the on‐line measurement of SVOCs while retaining sensitivity for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In addition, the signal response time for SVOCs is reduced substantially over conventional ‘flow‐over’ MIMS interfaces. Separation and quantitation of analytes are achieved using quadrupole ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.