Direct and Sensitive Detection of CWA Simulants by Active Capillary Plasma Ionization Coupled to a Handheld Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer

Abstract

Abstract. An active capillary plasma ionization (ACI) source was coupled to a handheld mass spectrometer (Mini 10.5; Aston Labs, West Lafayette, IN, USA) and applied to the direct gas-phase detection and quantification of chemical warfare agent (CWA) related chemicals. Complementing the discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface (DAPI) of the Mini 10.5 mass spectrometer with an additional membrane pump, a quasi-continuous sample introduction through the ACI source was achieved. Nerve agent simulants (three dialkyl alkylphosphonates, a dialkyl phosporamidate, and the pesticide dichlorvos) were detected at low gas-phase concentrations with limits of detection ranging from 1.0 μg/m 3 to 6.3 μg/m 3 . Our results demonstrate a sensitivity enhancement for portable MS-instrumentation by using an ACI source, enabling direct, quantitative measurements of volatile organic compounds. Due to its high sensitivity, selectivity, low power consumption (<80 W) and weight (<13 kg), this instrumentation has the potential for direct on-site CWA detection as required by military or civil protection.

Analytical Validation of a Portable Mass Spectrometer Featuring Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for High Throughput Forensic Evidence Screening

“…To this end, validation studies that follow standard practices [45] and recommendations from gatekeepers like the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) [46] are required to ensure subsequent court admissibility. While broad validation efforts have been undertaken for ambient ionization methods conducted on lab-scale MS instrumentation, such as the work of Gurdak and coworkers at National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in assessing inter-laboratory repeatability and constancy of DESI-MS [47], similar efforts utilizing portable MS systems for forensic applications have been limited to categorical assessments like limits of detection (LOD) and linearity [48,49]. Cooks and co-workers have assessed LODs for explosives residues [50,51] and drugs of abuse [52] using their lineage of miniaturized MS systems, as well as demonstrated quantitative toxicological analysis of biofluids [53,54].…”

Sensitivity enhancement of flexible gas sensors via conversion of inkjet-printed silver electrodes into porous gold counterparts

“…There have been only a few reports in the literature describing the detection of DEEP vapour, most of which utilized mass spectrometry that featured high sensitivity and selectivity. For example, DEEP vapour has been detected with active capillary plasma ionization coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer 41 and with selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) 42 with a limit of detection of 0.15 ppb and 45 pptv, respectively. In addition to mass spectrometry, optical reflectivity spectroscopy has also been used to detect 135 ppm DEEP vapour 43 .…”

Reactive indoor air chemistry and health—A workshop summary

“…Current real-time instrumentation typically collects information on total organics for the gas-phase species and particle number, size, surface area and distribution over time for the particulate-phase (Stefaniak, 2016). Manufacturers and academia have worked to address this need through the development of miniature GC/MS devices and gas-specific sensors; however, chromatography limits, power requirements, sensor “fouling”, and the sheer number of potential oxidized compounds continue to plague their integration into the field (Brüggemann et al, 2015; Laborie et al, 2016; Nölscher et al, 2012; Wang et al, 2015; Wolf et al, 2016; Wolf et al, 2015a,b; Zhou et al, 2015).…”