Ultrasensitive detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents by low-pressure photoionization mass spectrometry.
On-spot monitoring of threat agents needs high sensitive instrument. In this study, a low-pressure photoionization mass spectrometer (LPPI-MS) was employed to detect trace amounts of vapor-phase explosives and chemical warfare agent mimetics under ambient conditions. Under 10-s detection time, the limits of detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene, nitrotoluene, nitrobenzene, and dimethyl methyl phosphonate were 30, 0.5, 4, and 1 parts per trillion by volume, respectively. As compared to those obtained previously with PI mass spectrometric techniques, an improvement of 3-4 orders of magnitude was achieved. This study indicates that LPPI-MS will open new opportunities for the sensitive detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents.
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Wanqi
W
Sun
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Miao
M
Liang
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Zhen
Z
Li
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China. Electronic address: jshu@rcees.ac.cn.
Jinian
J
Shu
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Bo
B
Yang
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Ce
C
Xu
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
Yao
Y
Zou
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000032:analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000032:analysis; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D011312:Pressure
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D053834:Explosive Agents; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C031116:dimethyl methylphosphonate; C016403:2,4-dinitrotoluene; C036077:nitrobenzene
Chemical warfare agent; Explosive; Low-pressure photoionization mass spectrometry; Ultrasensitive detection