In the chemical characterization of organic aerosols multiple compounds can be present at a given mass. With traditional methods of aerosol collection on filters and subsequent extraction and analysis by GC/MS or LC/MS, 'aging' of the aerosol can occur and the composition may have changed over time, so there is a need for real-time analysis. However, for real-time analysis GC or LC are not options for separating isomeric and isobaric compounds. To address this we have incorporated a mobility separation prior to the mass spectrometer. With a custom-built differential ion mobility spectrometer (DIMS) on the front of the mass spectrometer we have observed multiple compounds at many mass-to-charge values in the real-time analysis of aerosol particles. In some cases it is very difficult to even see some of the species in the convoluted MS/MS spectra obtained without DIMS. The combination of DIMS with MS/MS makes real-time mass spectrometric analysis of complex pyrolysis products feasible.

Differential ion mobility/MS/MS: When you need separations in real-time

248th National Meeting (2014)

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