Secondary Electrospray Ionization (SESI) of Ambient Vapors for Explosive Detection at Concentrations Below Parts Per Trillion
P. M-L Sinues, J. Rus, G. F. de la Mora, M. Hernández, and J. F. de la Mora
Abstract: We determine the sensitivity of several commercial atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometers towards ambient vapors, ionized by contact with an electrospray of acidified or ammoniated solvent, a technique often referred to as secondary electrospray ionization (SESI).
Although a record limit of detection of 0.2 x 10(-12) atmospheres (0.2 ppt) is found for explosives such as PETN and 0.4 ppt for TNT (without preconcentration), this still implies the need for some 10(8)-10(9) vapor molecules/s for positive identification of explosives. This extremely inefficient use of sample is partly due to low charging probability ( approximately 10(-4)), finite ion transmission, and counting probability in the mass spectrometer (1/10 in quadrupoles), and a variable combination of duty cycle and background noise responsible typically for a 10(3) factor loss of useful signal.