Radiofrequency Plasma Ionization/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer for Real-TimeMonitoring of Trace Chemical Vapors During OB/OD Operations

摘要

Report developed under SBIR contract. There is a great need to develop a real-time analytical technique for monitoring trace vapor emissions during open burning/open detonation (OB/OD) testing in BangBox facilities. In Phase I of this study, a corona discharge atmospheric pressure ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometer CDAPI/TOFMS was successfully developed and evaluated for analyzing permanent gas, volatile organic, semi-volatile organic, and toxic metal target analytes selected from previous OB/OD tests. Mass spectra illustrating selectivities were obtained. Sensitivities in the parts-per-trillion range and calibration curves were determined for various analytes. The CDAPI/TOFMS was shown to be more sensitive than GC/MS, SFC/MS, and FTIR. A detailed design of a prototype CDAPI/TOFMS for construction and testing during Phase II of this project was produced. The new design emphasizes improved instrument performance and facilitates instrument manufacturing and commercialization. All Phase I objectives were accomplished. Successful development of the proposed technology will significantly reduce the time and cost of obtaining OB/OD vapor emission data, and provide instrumentation for monitoring alternative methods such as incineration. The technology also has application to explosives and drug detection. Commercial applications include monitoring of workplace air environments, sniffing of hazardous waste sites, and monitoring of chemical process streams.