Chemical Processes & Instrument Development: Instruments

Electrospray Ionization Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (ESI-Q-MS)

ESI-Q-MS Spectrometer
ESI-Q-MS Spectrometer

schematic
Schematic of the major components of the ESI-Q-MS Spectrometer

Principle of the Measurement

The electrospray ion source relies on charge separation and ionization occurring in a fine spray of droplets in an intense electric field. This source can produce either positive or negative ions according to the application. These ions are then sampled into the mass spectrometer for analysis.

Technical Specifications

This instrument is based on a Balsers QM420 quadrupole mass spectrometer with a home-built front end that includes an ion funnel and octopole ion guides.

Time Response: Capable of sub 1Hz operation on single ions, but the practical time resolution for multiple ions in combination with the ESI source is 10 sec
Detection Limit: 5 x10-7 g/L Chloride ions
Accuracy: ±10% at concentrations well above detection limit for calibrated species

Applications

This instrument was interfaced with a particle-into-liquid-sampler (PiLS) for analysis of particles emitted by wildfire. It was also used in conjunction with total reactive nitrogen (Nr) and total organic carbon (TOC) methods to develop and validate aerosol particle calibration methods. Recent uses have included detection of ion species in kinetic measurements of the reaction rates of organic species with O3 in solution and reactions of cyanate ion in solution.

Contact

Jim Burkholder

Key Publications

Stockwell, C.E., A. Kupc, B. Witkowski, R.K. Talukdar, Y. Liu, V. Selimovic, K.J. Zarzana, K. Sekimoto, C. Warneke, R.A. Washenfelder, R.J. Yokelson, A.M. Middlebrook, and J.M. Roberts, Characterization of a catalyst-based total nitrogen and carbon conversion technique to calibrate particle mass measurement instrumentation, Atmospheric Measurement Techniques, doi:10.5194/amt-11-2749-2018, 2018.