Mobility Peak Tailing Reduction in a Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA) Coupled with a Mass Spectrometer and Several Ionization Sources

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1506-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Amo-Gonzalez ◽  
Juan Fernandez de la Mora
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea C. Wagner ◽  
Anton Bergen ◽  
Sophia Brilke ◽  
Claudia Fuchs ◽  
Markus Ernst ◽  
...  

Abstract. A new method for size resolved chemical analysis of nucleation mode aerosol particles (size range from ~ 10 to ~ 30 nm) is presented. The Thermal Desorption Differential Mobility Analyzer (TD-DMA) uses an online, discontinuous principle. The particles are charged, a specific size is selected by differential mobility analysis and they are collected on a filament by electrostatic precipitation. Subsequently, the sampled mass is evaporated in a clean carrier gas and analyzed by a chemical ionization mass spectrometer. Gas phase measurements are performed with the same mass spectrometer during the sampling of particles. The characterization shows reproducible results, with a particle size resolution of 1.19 and the transmission efficiency for 15 nm particles being slightly above 50 %. The signal from the evaporation of a test substance can be detected starting from 0.01 ng and shows a linear response in the mass spectrometer. Instrument operation in the range of pg/m3 is demonstrated by an example measurement of 15 nm particles produced by nucleation from dimethylamine, sulfuric acid and water.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 5489-5506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea C. Wagner ◽  
Anton Bergen ◽  
Sophia Brilke ◽  
Claudia Fuchs ◽  
Markus Ernst ◽  
...  

Abstract. A new method for size-resolved chemical analysis of nucleation mode aerosol particles (size range from ∼10 to ∼30 nm) is presented. The Thermal Desorption Differential Mobility Analyzer (TD-DMA) uses an online, discontinuous principle. The particles are charged, a specific size is selected by differential mobility analysis and they are collected on a filament by electrostatic precipitation. Subsequently, the sampled mass is evaporated in a clean carrier gas and analyzed by a chemical ionization mass spectrometer. Gas-phase measurements are performed with the same mass spectrometer during the sampling of particles. The characterization shows reproducible results, with a particle size resolution of 1.19 and the transmission efficiency for 15 nm particles being slightly above 50 %. The signal from the evaporation of a test substance can be detected starting from 0.01 ng and shows a linear response in the mass spectrometer. Instrument operation in the range of pg m−3 is demonstrated by an example measurement of 15 nm particles produced by nucleation from dimethylamine, sulfuric acid and water.


The Analyst ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 141 (11) ◽  
pp. 3437-3443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Bouza ◽  
Jaime Orejas ◽  
Silvia López-Vidal ◽  
Jorge Pisonero ◽  
Nerea Bordel ◽  
...  

A FAPA is a good alternative to traditional ion mobility ionization sources.


2001 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Joutsensaari ◽  
P. Vaattovaara ◽  
M. Vesterinen ◽  
K. Hämeri ◽  
A. Laaksonen

Abstract. A novel method to characterize the organic composition of aerosol particles has been developed. The method is based on organic vapor interaction with aerosol particles and it has been named an Organic Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (OTDMA). The OTDMA method has been tested for inorganic (sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate) and organic (citric acid and adipic acid) particles. Growth curves of the particles have been measured in ethanol vapor and as a comparison in water vapor as a function of saturation ratio. Measurements in water vapor show that sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate as well as citric acid particles grow at water saturation ratios (S) of 0.8 and above, whereas adipic acid particles do not grow at S <  0.96. For sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate particles, a deliquescence point is observed at S = 0.75 and S = 0.79, respectively. Citric acid particles grow monotonously with increasing saturation ratios already at low saturation ratios and no clear deliquescence point is found. For sodium chloride and ammonium sulfate particles, no growth can be seen in ethanol vapor at saturation ratios below 0.93. In contrast, for adipic acid particles, the deliquescence takes place at around S = 0.95 in the ethanol vapor. The recrystallization of adipic acid takes place at S < 0.4. Citric acid particles grow in ethanol vapor similarly as in water vapor; the particles grow monotonously with increasing saturation ratios and no stepwise deliquescence is observed. The results show that the working principles of the OTDMA are operational for single-component aerosols. Furthermore, the results indicate that the OTDMA method may prove useful in determining whether aerosol particles contain organic substances, especially if the OTDMA is operated in parallel with a hygroscopicity TDMA, as the growth of many substances is different in ethanol and water vapors.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paap Koemets ◽  
Sander Mirme ◽  
Kuno Kooser ◽  
Heikki Junninen

&lt;p&gt;The Highly Oxidized Molecule Ion Spectrometer (HOMIS) is a novel instrument for measuring the total concentration of highly oxidized molecules (HOM-s) (Bianchi et al., 2019) at atmospheric pressure. The device combines a chemical ionization charger with a multi-channel differential mobility analyzer. The chemical ionization charger is based on the principles outlined by Eisele and Tanner (1993). The charger is attached to a parallel differential mobility analyzer identical to the ones used in the Neutral cluster and Air Ion Spectrometer (NAIS, Mirme 2011), but with modified sample and sheath air flow rates to improve the mobility resolution of the device. The complete mobility distribution in the range from 3.2 to 0.056 cm&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;/V/s is measured simultaneously by 25 electrometers. The range captures the charger ions, monomers, dimers, trimers but also extends far towards larger particles to possibly detect larger HOM-s that have not been measured with existing instrumentation. The maximum time resolution of the device is 1 second allowing it to detect rapid changes in the sample. The device has been designed to be easy to use, require little maintenance and work reliably in various environments during long term measurements.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;First results of the prototype were acquired from laboratory experiments and ambient measurements. Experiments were conducted at the Laboratory of Environmental Physics, University of Tartu. The sample was drawn from a reaction chamber where alpha-pinene and ozone were introduced. Initial results show a good response when concentrations of alpha-pinene and ozone were changed.&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ambient measurements were conducted at the SMEAR Estonia measurement station in a hemiboreal forest for 10 days in the spring and two months in the winter of 2020. The HOMIS measurements were performed together with a CI-APi-TOF (Jokinen et al., 2012).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;References:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bianchi, F., Kurt&amp;#233;n, T., Riva, M., Mohr, C., Rissanen, M. P., Roldin, P., Berndt, T., Crounse, J. D., Wennberg, P. O., Mentel, T. F., Wildt, J., Junninen, H., Jokinen, T., Kulmala, M., Worsnop, D. R., Thornton, J. A., Donahue, N., Kjaergaard, H. G. and Ehn, M. (2019), &amp;#8220;Highly Oxygenated Organic Molecules (HOM) from Gas-Phase Autoxidation Involving Peroxy Radicals: A Key Contributor to Atmospheric Aerosol&amp;#8221;, Chemical Reviews, 119, 6, 3472&amp;#8211;3509&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Eisele, F. L., Tanner D. J. (1993), &amp;#8220;Measurement of the gas phase concentration of H2SO4 and methane sulfonic acid and estimates of H2SO4 production and loss in the atmosphere&amp;#8221;, JGR: Atmospheres, 98, 9001-9010&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jokinen T., Sipil&amp;#228; M., Junninen H., Ehn M., L&amp;#246;nn G., Hakala J., Pet&amp;#228;j&amp;#228; T., Mauldin III R. L., Kulmala M., and Worsnop D. R. (2012), &amp;#8220;Atmospheric sulphuric acid and neutral cluster measurements using CI-APi-TOF&amp;#8221;, Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 12, 4117&amp;#8211;4125&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mirme, S. (2011), &amp;#8220;Development of nanometer aerosol measurement technology&amp;#8221;, Doctoral thesis, University of Tartu&lt;/p&gt;


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