Real Time Monitoring of VOCs and Inorganic Pollutants in Ambient Air by Ion Molecule Reaction - Mass Spectrometry

Abstract:

The analysis of VOCs and inorganic gaseous pollutants is a major demand in understanding air quality and the climate change. Current reference methods are mainly offline methods, i.e. passive sampling, preconcentration steps prior to the analysis. They allow the interpretation of environmental conditions as averages over hours, days or even longer periods. In this abstract we present a technology that is based on IMR-MS (ion molecule reaction – mass spectrometry) that allows the simultaneous real time monitoring of hazardous components, like benzene, toluene, butadiene, styrene, chlorinated components, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide etc.. Typical time of analysis at sub ppb up to ppm – concentrations is one second for each molecule avoiding any kind of passive sample collection and -pretreatment. Several examples from various European states as well as from Thailand will be presented to show the benefit of real time monitoring of the ambient air in industrial- and urban regions. In addition a comparison with classical reference methods will be discussed. Thus not only in Asia but all over the world it is a today’s major demand to better understanding the quality of air and IMR-MS has a contribution to offer.

Keywords: ambient air quality, real time monitoring, Asia, VOCs