Cross flow ion mobility spectrometry: Theory and initial prototype testing

By marrying the concepts behind ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and differential mobility analysis (DMA), a new instrument, the Cross Flow Ion Mobility Spectrometer (CF-IMS) (patent pending), was constructed and tested. CF-IMS is a light-weight, low cost instrument that can analyze the composition of the gas phase continuously and with high mobility resolution. In this paper, we report the theory behind CF-IMS and measurements with a low resolution prototype. Reduced mobility of acetone, benzene, and pyridine at 473.15 K and 101.3 kPa were measured to be 2.35 × 10−4, 2.32 × 10−4, and 2.18 × 10−4, m2 V−1 s−1, respectively, in agreement with linear IMS measurements. CF-IMS could be used to analyze gas phase compounds or volatile particle phase compounds when used in conjunction with appropriate preconditioners.