Application of an ion mobility spectrometer with pulsed ionisation source in the detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate and toluene diisocyanate

Abstract

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a well known technique; offering small size and a sensitivity in the ppb range makes it a typical technique for the detection of explosives or chemical warfare agents. Ordinary IMS devices use in general a continuously working radioactive ionization source. We use a pulsed non-radioactive electron source for ionization which offers the innovative possibility of introducing delay times in between ionization and ion detection. The application and benefits of such a pulsed ionization source in the detection of the chemical warfare agent simulant dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and the toxic toluene diisocyanate (TDI) will be demonstrated.