Application of Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry for Identification of Gas and Particulate Phase Organic Species in the Atmosphere

Abstract:

We present recent results obtained from the application of an ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometer (IMS-TOF) to the detection of oxidized organic species in the atmosphere. Ion mobility mass spectrometry separates ions on the basis of their interactions with buffer gases on millisecond time scales and allows for detailed separation and identification of isomeric and isobaric molecules. Detection of highly oxidized gas phase organics is achieved by coupling the IMS-TOF to a chemical ionization scheme that utilized NO₃^- as the reagent ion. Oxidized gas phase molecules produced from biogenic precursors were chemically characterized with this technique during the Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) field campaign as well as in laboratory experiments utilizing a potential aerosol mass (PAM) reactor. The application of IMS-TOF to aerosol phase organic species is also presented. While molecular composition of fine aerosol is often obtained by combining gas or liquid chromatography (GC or LC) with mass spectrometric detection, these techniques are limited in their ability to transfer, resolve and identify water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) species which account for a significant portion of aerosol mass. Here we demonstrate IMS as a promising alternative approach for obtaining detailed information about organic aerosol (OA) constituent species. We examine aerosol particles collected on filters during ambient and laboratory measurements. The filter extracts are subjected to electrospray ionization (ESI) before detection with the IMS-TOF. The capability of this technique to resolve WSOC species, isomers, and oligomers is highlighted.