Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Performance Characteristics and Applications of a Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometer for Measuring Volatile Organic Compounds in Ambient Air
AU - Hayward, S.
AU - Hewitt, C. N.
AU - Sartin, J. H.
AU - Owen, S. M.
PY - 2002/2/28
Y1 - 2002/2/28
N2 - Data illustrating the performance characteristics of a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) under both laboratory and field conditions are presented. Under laboratory conditions, we demonstrate that PTR-MS measures (within 10%) a 2.6 ppbv concentration of gaseous dimethyl sulfide. Using a stepwise dilution of a gaseous isoprene standard, we demonstrate the linearity of the response of PTR-MS across 3 orders of magnitude of mixing ratios, from 100 ppbv to less than 100 pptv. By combining this data set with that of its monosubstituted 13C isotopic analogue, we demonstrate the ability of the instrument to reliably measure concentrations as low as ∼50 pptv and to detect concentrations at significantly lower levels. We conclude our laboratory characterization by investigating the components of the instrument noise signal (drift, mean, and range) and develop an expression (noise statistic) that reliably predicts the instrumental noise associated with any signal across a wide range of masses. In the field, we deployed a PTR-MS at a clean-air coastal site and an urban kerbside monitoring station to demonstrate the measurement of atmospheric dimethyl sulfide and benzene concentrations, respectively. At both sites, we were able to monitor diurnal variations in concentrations at unprecedented temporal resolutions (
AB - Data illustrating the performance characteristics of a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) under both laboratory and field conditions are presented. Under laboratory conditions, we demonstrate that PTR-MS measures (within 10%) a 2.6 ppbv concentration of gaseous dimethyl sulfide. Using a stepwise dilution of a gaseous isoprene standard, we demonstrate the linearity of the response of PTR-MS across 3 orders of magnitude of mixing ratios, from 100 ppbv to less than 100 pptv. By combining this data set with that of its monosubstituted 13C isotopic analogue, we demonstrate the ability of the instrument to reliably measure concentrations as low as ∼50 pptv and to detect concentrations at significantly lower levels. We conclude our laboratory characterization by investigating the components of the instrument noise signal (drift, mean, and range) and develop an expression (noise statistic) that reliably predicts the instrumental noise associated with any signal across a wide range of masses. In the field, we deployed a PTR-MS at a clean-air coastal site and an urban kerbside monitoring station to demonstrate the measurement of atmospheric dimethyl sulfide and benzene concentrations, respectively. At both sites, we were able to monitor diurnal variations in concentrations at unprecedented temporal resolutions (
U2 - 10.1021/es0102181
DO - 10.1021/es0102181
M3 - Journal article
VL - 36
SP - 1554
EP - 1560
JO - Environmental Science and Technology
JF - Environmental Science and Technology
SN - 0013-936X
IS - 7
ER -