Screening volatile organics by direct sampling ion trap and glow discharge mass spectrometry

Two different types of direct sampling mass spectrometers are currently being evaluated in our laboratory for use as rapid screening tools for volatile organics in a wide range of environmental matrices. These include a commercially available ITMS ion trap mass spectrometer and a specially designed tandem source glow discharge quadrupole mass spectrometer. Both of these instruments are equipped with versatile sampling interfaces which enable direct monitoring of volatile organics at part-per-billion (ppb) levels in air, water, and soil samples. Direct sampling mass spectrometry does not utilize chromatographic or other separation steps prior to admission of samples into the analyzer. Instead, individual compounds are measured using one or more of the following methods: spectral subtraction, selective chemical ionization, and tandem mass spectroscopy (MS/MS). For air monitoring applications, an active sniffer'' probe is used to achieve instantaneous response. Water and soil samples are analyzed by means of high speed direct purge into the mass spectrometer. Both instruments provide a range of ionization options for added selectivity and the ITMS can also provide high efficiency collision induced dissociation MS/MS for target compound analysis. Detection limits and response factors have been determined for a large number volatile organics in air, water, and number of different soil types. 4 refs., 14 figs., 3 tabs