title: Enhancement of Compound Selectivity Using a Radio Frequency Ion-Funnel Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer: Improved Specificity for Explosive Compounds.
abstract: A key issue with any analytical system based on mass spectrometry with no initial separation of compounds is to have a high level of confidence in chemical assignment. This is particularly true for areas of security, such as airports, and recent terrorist attacks have highlighted the need for reliable analytical instrumentation. Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry is a useful technology for these purposes because the chances of false positives are small owing to the use of a mass spectrometric analysis. However, the detection of an ion at a given m/z for an explosive does not guarantee that that explosive is present. There is still some ambiguity associated with any chemical assignment owing to the presence of isobaric compounds and, depending on mass resolution, ions with the same nominal m/z. In this article we describe how for the first time the use of a radio frequency ion-funnel (RFIF) in the reaction region (drift tube) of a proton transfer reaction-time-of-flight-mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) can be used to enhance specificity by manipulating the ion-molecule chemistry through collisional induced processes. Results for trinitrotoluene, dinitrotoluenes, and nitrotoluenes are presented to demonstrate the advantages of this new RFIF-PTR-ToF-MS for analytical chemical purposes.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González-Méndez
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olivenza-León
authors.affiliation: Kore Technology Ltd , Cambridgeshire Business Park, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EA, U.K.
authors.forename: D Fraser
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.affiliation: Kore Technology Ltd , Cambridgeshire Business Park, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EA, U.K.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mullock
authors.affiliation: Kore Technology Ltd , Cambridgeshire Business Park, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB7 4EA, U.K.
authors.forename: Clive A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Corlett
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory , Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7BP, U.K.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory , Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7BP, U.K.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.affiliation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory , Porton Down, Salisbury, Wilshire SP4 0JQ, U.K.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.affiliation: Molecular Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.|Institut für Atemgasanalytik, Leopold-Franzens-Universitaet Innsbruck , Innsbruck 6020, Austria.
authors.forename: Chris A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mayhew