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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
Hollow Cathode Discharge Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Detection, Quantification and Gas Phase Ion-Molecule Reactions
Huanhuan Hong1,2, Ahsan Habib1,3, Lei Bi1,2
1The Research Institute of Advanced Technologies, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Abstract:
Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an essential analytical method in every sector of science and technology. Because of its unique ability to provide direct molecular structure information on analytes, an extra method is rarely required. This review describes fabrication of a variable-pressure hollow cathode discharge (HCD) ion source for MS in detection, quantification and investigation of gas-phase ion molecule reactions of explosives and related compounds using air as a carrier gas. The HCD ion source has been designed in such a way that by altering the ion source pressures, the system can generate both HCD and conventional GD. This design enables for the selective detection and quantification of explosives at trace to ultra-trace levels. The pressure-dependent HCD ion source has also been used to investigate ion-molecule reactions in the gas phase of explosives and related compounds. The mechanism of ion formation in explosive reactions is also discussed.
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