A novel mobile navigation monitoring system based on single photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: Instrumentation development, performance and application

Abstract

Tracing the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollution plays an important role in controlling the emission of VOCs and reducing the content of O3 and secondary aerosols. In this paper, a novel mobile navigation monitoring system was developed, which can be used to monitor VOCs pollution of whole area and to locate VOCs pollution sources at abnormal points, providing an available technical methods for rapid and efficient identify of pollution sources in the area. The navigation monitoring system is composed of modified vehicle with a single photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (SPI-MS-2000), global positioning system receiver and other instruments. The navigation monitoring system monitors along the route in the target area, and establishes the pollution map of the whole area. According to the pollution map, the emission sources of VOCs can be accurately traced. The spatial resolution of the navigation monitoring system is 27 m. The resolutions of the benzene, toluene, xylene and chlorobenzene were 746, 740, 717 and 716, respectively. The limits of detection of the SPI-MS-2000 down to 2.46, 0.95, 0.38 and 1.13 ppbv were obtained for benzene, toluene, xylene and chlorobenzene. The SPI-MS-2000 was calibrated by using PAMS and TO-15. To evaluate the ability of the navigation monitoring system to monitor VOCs in the atmospheric environment, the distribution of VOCs on two different routes were investigated, three abnormal positions were found in one of the routes, which provided data support for the environmental pollution control in this area.