Tropospheric Chemistry: Instruments

Proton-transfer Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometry (PIT-MS)

Decommissioned

PITMS instrument — PIT-MS instrument installed in rack in research trailer

Principle of the Measurement

Ionization of VOCs by proton transfer with hydronium ions (H3O+)
Detection using a ion-trap mass spectrometer
Chemical separation using collision-induced dissociation

Species Measured

Aromatics
Biogenic VOCs (isoprene, monoterpenes)
Alcohols
Ketones
Acids
Aldehydes
Nitriles
Peroxy nitrates
Dimethyl sulfide

Time Response / Detection Limit

10-300 seconds / 100-500 pptv

Field Projects

INDOEX 1999
MINOS 2001
ITCT 2002
NEAQS 2002
ICARTT 2004
MILAGRO 2006
TexAQS 2006
BEARPEX 2007
ARCPAC 2008
ICEALOT 2008
CalNex 2010
NACHTT 2011
BioCORN 2011
SONNE 2012
UBWOS 2012
SENEX 2013

Key Publications

C. Warneke, S. Kato, J. A. de Gouw, P. D. Goldan, W. C. Kuster, M. Shao, E. R. Lovejoy, R. Fall, and F. C. Fehsenfeld, Online volatile organic compound measurements using a newly developed proton-transfer ion-trap mass spectrometry instrument during New England Air Quality Study - Intercontinental Transport and Chemical Transformation 2004: Performance, intercomparison, and compound identification, Environmental Science & Technology, doi:10.1021/es050602o, 2004.

C. Warneke, J. A. de Gouw, E. R. Lovejoy, P. C. Murphy, W. C. Kuster, and R. Fall, Development of proton-transfer ion trap-mass spectrometry: On-line detection and identification of volatile organic compounds in air, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, doi:10.1016/j.jasms.2005.03.025, 2005.

C. Warneke, S. Rosen, E. R. Lovejoy, J. A. de Gouw, and R. Fall, Two additional advantages of proton-transfer ion trap mass spectrometry , Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, doi:10.1002/rcm.1281, 2004.