Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Fizzy Extraction of Volatile Organic Compounds Combined with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry
Published on: July 14, 2017
Low-Cost Alternative for Online Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds
Benjamin Rico1, Jon S Sauer1, Kimberly A Prather1,2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, United States.
Abstract:
The use of online mass spectrometry for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has proven to be a powerful technique, allowing for real-time analysis of many chemical and biochemical processes. Unfortunately, online mass spectrometry has had limited application due to high instrument costs and limited availability. Here, we detail the design, construction, and performance characteristics of a custom ion-molecule reactor retrofitted to a commonly used single quadrupole mass spectrometer to operate as an online chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS). This low-cost modified CIMS is capable of limits of detection below 10 parts per trillion for select VOCs including dimethyl sulfide, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine.
More Related Videos
10:22Split Point Analysis and Uncertainty Quantification of Thermal-Optical Organic/Elemental Carbon Measurements
Published on: September 7, 2019
08:23Real-time Breath Analysis by Using Secondary Nanoelectrospray Ionization Coupled to High Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Published on: March 9, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Volatilization
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Atomization Methods
Gas Chromatography: Overview of Detectors
A non-destructive detector allows a sample to be analyzed without altering or consuming it, meaning the sample can be collected after detection for further analysis. Examples include thermal conductivity detectors and...
Development of Analytical Methods
Gas Chromatography: Introduction
In GC, a sample is vaporized and mixed with an inert carrier gas (the mobile phase), which transports it through a...
Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS)
A gas chromatograph consists of a long, narrow capillary column with a polysiloxane coating on the inner wall....