Acquisition of a Real-Time, API-TOFMS Monitor for Use with aMobile Test Gas Generation Facility

由于希望确定对流层微量气体的组成和化学反应能力，因此发展了各种仪器方法，用于分析低浓度和万亿分之一浓度的大气气体。为了评估独立分析方法之间的定量一致性，大气化学界提倡使用正式的相互比较。该奖项的首席研究员开发了一种便携式动态稀释系统，用于制备含有已知PPTV数量的各种硫磺气体的合成气体混合物。该系统最近被成功地用于以二氧化硫为重点的比对。将该系统扩展到非硫化合物的一个重要步骤是开发增强的测量能力，以测试和监控由改进的气体输送系统制备的不同测试气流。该奖项是为了开发基于大气压电离/飞行时间质谱仪(API-TOFMS)的这种能力。API-TOFMS将为多个分析物的同时实时监测提供快速响应时间，并为可靠的现场操作提供相对设计的简单性和健壮性。该仪器将扩大气体稀释系统的使用范围，以跟踪氮气、卤化气体、醛和酮以及生物碳氢化合物等大气化合物。它还将有助于对青年科学家进行教育和培训，使他们了解痕量物种测量质量保证的重要性。

The desire to characterize the trace gas composition and chemical reactivity of the troposphere has stimulated the development of various instrumental methods for the analysis of atmospheric gases at low part-per-billion and part-per-trillion concentrations. In order to assess the quantitative agreement between independent analysis methods, the atmospheric chemistry community has promoted the use of formal intercomparisons. The principal investigator of this award has developed a portable dynamic dilution system for the preparation of synthetic gas mixtures containing known pptv amounts of various sulfur gases. This system was recently employed successfully in an intercomparison focused on sulfur dioxide. An important step in extending the use of this system to non-sulfur compounds is the development of an enhanced measurement capability for testing and monitoring the different test gas streams prepared by the modified gas delivery system. This award is to develop such a capability based on an atmospheric pressure ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometer (API-TOFMS). The API-TOFMS will provide rapid response time for simultaneous real-time monitoring of several analytes and relative design simplicity and robustness for dependable field operation. The instrument will extend the use of the gas dilution system to trace atmospheric compounds such as nitrogen gases, halogenated gases, aldehydes and ketones, and biogenic hydrocarbons. It will also contribute to the education and training of young scientists related to the importance of quality assurance for trace species measurements.