A direct-inlet mass spectrometer for real-time analysis of airborne particles

Abstract

A surface-ionization mass spectrometer has been developed for real-time analysis of particles in air. The spectrometer is equipped with an efficient inlet for transmitting air-borne particles directly to the ionizing filament in the ion source, a dispersive mass analyzer for simultaneous measurement of multiple ion beams, and an ion detecting and measuring system which can integrate ion bursts from individual particles over a three-decade size range. The desk-sized instrument requires only electrical power for operation and can be transported to different locations.