Serially interfaced gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared spectrometer/ion trap mass spectrometer system

Abstract

A serial gas chromatography/Fourier transform infrared spectrometer/mass spectrometer (GC/FTIR/MS) system has been developed with an ion trap detector or mass analyzer that is interfaced to the light pipe in the FTIR spectrometer. A modification of the manufacturer-supplied open-split interface to the ion trap was required to obtain chromatographic results free of discrimination and activation effects. The flow rate of the helium make-up gas in the light pipe was used to control the amount of material that enters the ion trap. Hydrogen carrier gas was used for the chromatographic separations with no adverse effects on the mass spectra obtained. The analyses of three samples are described to demonstrate the capabilities of the system. These include the Grob test mixture, a steam distillate from a gasification water treatment plant, and a sample of methyl esters of coal oxidation products.