Characterization of a high resolution drift tube ion mobility spectrometer with a multi-ion source platform

This study presents an atmospheric pressure ionization high resolution ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) equipped with a multi-ion source platform, which together with the design of the drift tube chamber allows the use of various atmospheric pressure ionization (API) methods, namely electrospray ionization (ESI), corona discharge atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (CD-APCI), atmospheric pressure photo ionization (APPI), and radioactive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (R-APCI). The instrument thus allows one to study samples using the same drift tube with different ionization techniques either in positive or in negative ion mode. The instrument has a high resolving power, around 100, and a reproducible reduced mobility value of ∼1.48 cm2/Vs (relative standard deviation below 1%) for 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (2,6-DtBP) was obtained with all of the ionization methods. The shape of the ion pulse as a function of gate opening time and how this affect the resolving power is discussed based on the observed differences between calculated and measured resolving power.

A high resolution IMS equipped with a multi-ion source platform allowing one to use different ionization techniques (ESI, CD-APCI, APPI, R-APCI) is introduced.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (33 K)Download as PowerPoint slide