Open AccessA new chemical ionization mass spectrometer technique for the fast measurement of gas phase nitric acid in the atmosphere
Author(s) -
Mauldin R. L.,
Tanner D. J.,
Eisele F. L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/97jd02212
Subject(s) - nitric acid , aeronomy , mass spectrometry , parts per notation , atmosphere (unit) , spectrometer , environmental science , chemical ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , ionization , ion , materials science , chemistry , environmental chemistry , meteorology , physics , optics , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , chromatography
A new chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) technique has been developed for the measurement of HNO 3 . The technique has been field tested and informally intercompared with a standard filter pack method, and a new CIMS technique developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Aeronomy Laboratory. The technique has been shown under lab conditions to have sensitivities as high as 0.2 parts per trillion volume (pptv) HNO 3 for a 1 s integration of each the reagent and product ions, with a typical clean air field detection limit of 1–3 pptv for the same integration times. The new technique also responds quickly to changes in HNO 3 concentrations. The high sensitivity and fast response time make this technique well suited for airborne measurements.