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Profile Trace Gas Analyser

Overview

Applications for trace gas measurement are varied and challenging and growing in number every day. Quantitative analysis of real samples has always been a problem, particularly moist samples, such as exhaled breath.

Now, the profile, from Instrument Science, provides solutions not available elsewhere. Gas phase samples can be analysed down to single digit ppb levels, without pre-concentration. The breath from a patient, the atmosphere in a workplace or the exhaust from an engine can be sampled directly, providing immediate results. Volatile liquids can also be analysed via their headspace.

The profile is one of a family of products utilising FA-MS and SIFT-MS, which are redefining the state of the art in trace gas analysis. These systems have been designed to be transportable, have moderate power requirements, require minimal consumables and be cost effective.

Life for researchers has suddenly become easier!


Technique

SIFT-MS (Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry) uses chemical ionisation, gas phase ion chemistry and quantitative mass spectrometry. Other techniques are limited to a single ionisation process, making the interpretation of results more difficult and subjective. With a choice of three reagent ions SIFT-MS not only incorporates ionisation by proton transfer but also charge transfer, hydride ion transfer and three-body association. This provides the facility to cross-reference results, enabling more certain identification of unknown peaks in complex mass spectra.

Profile for discovery

In full scan mode, the spectrum of all ions across a chosen mass range is available. This allows unusual peaks to be recognised and identified.

Profile for routine analysis

When the composition of a sample is known, profile can be set to monitor a number of chosen compounds, giving a continuous readout of their concentrations.

    analyse

  • alcohols
  • aldehydes
  • alkanes
  • alkenes
  • ammonia
  • aromatics
  • cyanides
  • esters
  • ethers
  • ketones
  • organosulphur compounds
  • ......and more

Applications

Medical research:

• disease markers
• addiction biology
• therapeutic monitoring
• cell biology

Health and safety:

• polution
• workplace monitoring

Food science:

• produce monitoring
• flavour release

Industrial:

• engine emissions
• bioreactors

Further reading

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) for on-line trace gas analysis. David Smith, Patrik Španel . Mass Spectrometry Reviews 24 (2005) 661- 700.

A general method for the calculation of absolute trace gas concentrations in air and breath from selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry data Patrik Spanel, Kseniya Dryahina, and David Smith. International Journal of Mass Spectrometry 249/250 (2006) 230-239 .

Detection of volatile compounds emitted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry Carroll, W; Lenney, W; Wang, TS; Spanel, P; Alcock, A; Smith, D. Pediatric Pulmonology, 39 (2005) 452-456.

Various papers on SIFT-MS in: A. Amman, D. Smith (Eds.), Breath Analysis for Clinical Diagnosis and Therapeutic Monitoring, World Scientific, Singapore, 2005.

A longitudinal study of ammonia, acetone and propanol in the exhaled breath of 30 subjects using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS Claire Turner Patrik Španel and David Smith. Physiological Measurement 27 (2006) 321-337.

A longitudinal study of ethanol and acetaldehyde in the exhaled breath of healthy volunteers using selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry Claire Turner, Patrik Španel and David Smith. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 20 (2006) 61-68.

Quantification of breath carbon disulphide and acetone following a single dose of disulfiram (Antibuse) using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) Roger N. Bloor, Patrik Španel and David Smith. Addiction Biology 11 (2006) 163-169.