Collaborative Research: Development and Evaluation of a Miniature Coaxial Ion Trap Mass Analyzer for Portable Chemical Analysis

在化学系化学测量和成像计划的支持下，西密歇根大学的Nicholas Taylor和Kristina Lemmer博士以及杨百翰大学的Daniel Austin博士正在努力开发一种新型的微型化仪器，用于现场便携式化学分析，该仪器基于一种被称为质谱学的强大方法。具体地说，该团队寻求开发一种能够比目前现场便携式分析仪更详细、更快地进行分析的设备。向工业界和科学界提供一种简单、轻便、能够快速原位化学测量的工具的能力，可以在许多领域产生社会影响，包括生物化学、药理学、环境监测、威胁检测、工业监测和质量控制，以及行星探测。这项工作是由化学和航空航天工程专业的本科生和研究生进行的，其中包括代表性不足的团体的成员。这种跨学科的合作与NSF的目标产生了共鸣，即在激励和帮助培训下一代科学家和工程师的同时，加强融合研究。配备高度小型化的离子陷阱质量分析器的野外便携式系统将具有快速、可靠地对广泛的分子物种进行定量化学测量的能力。泰勒团队正在设计和制造的新型同轴离子陷阱利用直线离子导向器(RIG)将内部或外部产生的离子有效地注入到高容量简化环形离子陷阱(STorIT)中，以进行离子积累和存储。储存在环形捕获区域中的分析感兴趣的离子被选择性地注入嵌套在环形捕获环内的圆柱形离子陷阱(CIT)中。用于MSN分析的空间隔离离子的过程可以对一系列物种重复进行，而不必重新填充环形捕捉区，从而提高了分析效率。由于将单个质量注入CIT进行MSN分析，因此化学噪声的固有降低提高了设备的检测极限和识别信心。通过西密歇根大学和杨百翰大学的合作，该系统正在进行建模和实验评估。三个目标应用程序将允许测试关键性能特征：疑似非法药物粉末的快速分析，天然气和油井中使用的示踪剂化合物的灵敏检测，以及大气气溶胶中半挥发性化合物的表征。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Drs. Nicholas Taylor and Kristina Lemmer at Western Michigan University and Daniel Austin at Brigham Young University are working to develop a novel miniaturized instrument for field-portable chemical analysis based on a powerful method known as mass spectrometry. Specifically, the team seeks to develop a device capable of more detailed and yet faster analysis than is currently possible in field-portable analyzers. The ability to provide industry and the scientific community with a simple, lightweight, and portable tool capable of rapid in situ chemical measurements can have a societal impact on many areas including biochemistry, pharmacology, environmental monitoring, threat detection, industrial monitoring and quality control, as well as planetary exploration. The work is being conducted by undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry and aerospace engineering, including members of underrepresented groups. This cross-disciplinary collaboration resonates with NSF’s goal to enhance convergence research while inspiring and helping train the next generation of scientists and engineers.Field portable systems equipped with highly miniaturized ion trap mass analyzers will possess the ability to rapidly and reliably make quantitative chemical measurements of a wide range of molecular species. The novel coaxial ion trap being designed and build by the Taylor team utilizes a rectilinear ion guide (RIG) for efficient injection of internally or externally generated ions into a high capacity simplified toroidal ion trap (STorIT) for ion accumulation and storage. Ions of analytical interest stored in the toroidal trapping region are mass selectively injected into a cylindrical ion trap (CIT) nested within the toroidal trapping ring. The process of spatially isolating ions for MSn analysis can be repeated for a range of species without having to repopulate the toroidal trapping region, enhancing analytical efficiency. Since a single mass is injected into the CIT for MSn analysis, there is an inherent reduction in chemical noise which enhances the device’s detection limits and identification confidence. The system is being modeled and experimentally evaluated through a collaborative effort between Western Michigan University and Brigham Young University. Three target applications will allow testing of key performance features: rapid analysis of suspected illegal drug powders, sensitive detection of tracer compounds used in natural gas and petroleum wells, and characterization of semi-volatile compounds in atmospheric aerosols.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.