title: Direct and Sensitive Detection of CWA Simulants by Active Capillary Plasma Ionization Coupled to a Handheld Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer.
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. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland. j.c.wolf@gmx.de.
authors.forename: Jan-Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Etter
authors.affiliation: Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP, Spiez Laboratory, Analytical Chemistry Branch, CH-3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schaer
authors.affiliation: Federal Office for Civil Protection FOCP, Spiez Laboratory, Analytical Chemistry Branch, CH-3700, Spiez, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siegenthaler
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland. zenobi@org.chem.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zenobi
keywords: Chemical warfare agent simulants; Dielectric barrier discharge ionization; Handheld mass spectrometer