scholarly journals A new chemical ionization mass spectrometer technique for the fast measurement of gas phase nitric acid in the atmosphere

1998 ◽  
Vol 103 (D3) ◽  
pp. 3361-3367 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Mauldin ◽  
D. J. Tanner ◽  
F. L. Eisele
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Acid ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Chemical Ionization ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Fast Measurement

scholarly journals A Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer for Ground-Based Measurements of Nitric Acid

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 1104-1113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyuki Kita ◽  
Yu Morino ◽  
Yutaka Kondo ◽  
Yuichi Komazaki ◽  
Nobuyuki Takegawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Acid ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Chemical Ionization ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Background Level ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Mixing Ratios ◽  
Free Air ◽  
Diffusion Scrubber

Abstract A chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) instrument has been developed for high-precision measurements of gaseous nitric acid (HNO3) specifically under high- and variable-humidity conditions in the boundary layer. The instrument’s background signals (i.e., signals detected when HNO3-free air is measured), which depend on the humidity and HNO3 concentration of the sample air, are the most important factor affecting the limit of detection (LOD). A new system to provide HNO3-free air without changing both the humidity and the pressure of the sampled air was developed to measure the background level accurately. The detection limit was about 23 parts per trillion by volume (pptv) for 50-s averages. Field tests, including an intercomparison with the diffusion scrubber technique, were carried out at a surface site in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2003 and June 2004. A comparison between the measured concentrations of HNO3 and particulate nitrate indicated that the interference from particulate nitrate was not detectable (i.e., less than about 1%). The intercomparison indicated that the two independent measurements of HNO3 agreed to within the combined uncertainties of these measurements. This result demonstrates that the CIMS instrument developed in this study is capable of measuring HNO3 mixing ratios with the precision, accuracy, and time resolution required for atmospheric science.

scholarly journals A switchable reagent ion high resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer for real-time measurement of gas phase oxidized species: characterization from the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 3199-3244 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Brophy ◽  
D. K. Farmer
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Chemical Ionization ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Resolution Time ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Reduced Pressure

Abstract. A novel configuration of the Aerodyne high resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (HR-TOF-CIMS) as a switchable reagent ion (SRI) HR-TOF-CIMS is presented and described along with data collected at the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) during the summer of 2013. The calibration system and reduced pressure gas-phase inlet are characterized. The average limit of detection and limit of quantification for formic acid during SOAS are 82 and 863 ppt, respectively, corresponding to an average sensitivity of 13 ± 5 Hz ppt−1. Hourly background determinations and calibrations are shown to be essential for tracking instrument performance and accurately quantifying formic acid. Maximum daytime formic acid concentrations of 10 ppb are reported during SOAS, and a strong diel cycle is observed leading to night time concentrations below the limit of quantification. Other species presented exhibit diel behavior similar to formic acid. The concept of the mass defect enhancement plot and the use of signal-to-noise are described in detail as a method for investigating HR-TOF-CIMS spectra in an effort to reduce data complexity.

scholarly journals A switchable reagent ion high resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer for real-time measurement of gas phase oxidized species: characterization from the 2013 southern oxidant and aerosol study

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 2945-2959 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Brophy ◽  
D. K. Farmer
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Formic Acid ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Chemical Ionization ◽  
Time Of Flight ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Resolution Time ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Reduced Pressure

Abstract. A novel configuration of the Aerodyne high resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (HR-TOF-CIMS) as a switchable reagent ion (SRI) HR-TOF-CIMS is presented and described along with data collected at the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) during the summer of 2013. The calibration system and reduced pressure gas phase inlet are characterized. The average limit of detection and limit of quantification for formic acid during SOAS are 82 and 863 ppt, respectively, corresponding to an average sensitivity of 13 ± 5 Hz ppt−1. Hourly background determinations and calibrations are shown to be essential for tracking instrument performance and accurately quantifying formic acid. Maximum daytime formic acid concentrations of 10 ppb are reported during SOAS, and a strong diel cycle is observed leading to nighttime concentrations below the limit of quantification. Other species presented exhibit diel behavior similar to formic acid. The concept of the mass defect enhancement plot and the use of signal-to-noise are described in detail as a method for investigating HR-TOF-CIMS spectra in an effort to reduce data complexity.

scholarly journals Atmospheric amines and ammonia measured with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS)

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 12181-12194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. You ◽  
V. P. Kanawade ◽  
J. A. de Gouw ◽  
A. B. Guenther ◽  
S. Madronich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Chemical Ionization ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Submicron Particles ◽  
Primary Amines ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
Southeastern Us

Abstract. We report measurements of ambient amines and ammonia with a fast response chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) in a southeastern US forest and a moderately polluted midwestern site during the summer. At the forest site, mostly C3-amines (from pptv to tens of pptv) and ammonia (up to 2 ppbv) were detected, and they both showed temperature dependencies. Aerosol-phase amines measured thermal-desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometer (TDCIMS) showed a higher mass fraction in the evening with cooler temperatures and lower in the afternoon with warmer temperatures, a trend opposite to the gas-phase amines. Concentrations of aerosol-phase primary amines measured with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) from micron and submicron particles were 2 orders of magnitude higher than the gas-phase amines. These results indicate that gas to particle conversion is one of the major processes that control the ambient amine concentrations at this forest site. Temperature dependencies of C3-amines and ammonia also imply reversible processes of evaporation of these nitrogen-containing compounds from soil surfaces in daytime and deposition to soil surfaces at nighttime. During the transported biomass burning plume events, various amines (C1–C6) appeared at the pptv level, indicating that biomass burning is a substantial source of amines in the southeastern US. At the moderately polluted Kent site, there were higher concentrations of C1- to C6-amines (pptv to tens of pptv) and ammonia (up to 6 ppbv). C1- to C3-amines and ammonia were well correlated with the ambient temperature. C4- to C6-amines showed frequent spikes during the nighttime, suggesting that they were emitted from local sources. These abundant amines and ammonia may in part explain the frequent new particle formation events reported from Kent. Higher amine concentrations measured at the polluted site than at the rural forested site highlight the importance of constraining anthropogenic emission sources of amines.

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