Environmental and Forensic applications of field-portable GC-MS: An overview

Eckenrode, Brian A.

doi:10.1016/s1044-0305(01)00251-3

Cited by 108 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Fast-GC methods have also been employed to provide qualitative analysis of the BVOC composition of essential oils (e.g. White, 2009), and for various forensic applications (Eckenrode, 2001). However, to our knowledge, this is the first study to apply Fast-GC separation to the quantitative analysis of terpenes in ambient air.…”

Section: E Jones Et Al: a Novel Fast Gas Chromatography Methods Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel fast gas chromatography method for higher time resolution measurements of speciated monoterpenes in air

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Biogenic emissions supply the largest fraction of non-methane volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the biosphere to the atmospheric boundary layer, and typically comprise a complex mixture of reactive terpenes. Due to this chemical complexity, achieving comprehensive measurements of biogenic VOC (BVOC) in air within a satisfactory time resolution is analytically challenging. To address this, we have developed a novel, fully automated Fast Gas Chromatography (Fast-GC) based technique to provide higher time resolution monitoring of monoterpenes (and selected other C 9 -C 15 terpenes) during plant emission studies and in ambient air. To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply a Fast-GC based separation technique to achieve quantification of terpenes in ambient air. Three chromatography methods have been developed for atmospheric terpene analysis under different sampling scenarios. Each method facilitates chromatographic separation of selected BVOC within a significantly reduced analysis time compared to conventional GC methods, whilst maintaining the ability to quantify individual monoterpene structural isomers. Using this approach, the C 9 -C 15 BVOC composition of single plant emissions may be characterised within a 14.5 min analysis time. Moreover, in-situ quantification of 12 monoterpenes in unpolluted ambient air may be achieved within an 11.7 min chromatographic separation time (increasing to 19.7 min when simultaneous quantification of multiple oxygenated C 9 -C 10 terpenoids is required, and/or when concentrations of anthropogenic VOC are significant). These analysis times potentially allow for a twofold to fivefold increase in measurement frequency compared to conventional GC methods. Here we outline the technical details and analytical capability of this chromatographic approach, and present the first in-situ Fast-GC observations of 6 monoterpenes and the oxygenated BVOC (OBVOC) linalool in ambient air. During this field deployment within a suburban forest ∼ 30 km west of central Tokyo, Japan, the Fast-GC limit of detection with respect to monoterpenes was 4-5 ppt, and the agreement between Fast-GC and PTR-MS derived total monoterpene mixing ratios was consistent with previous GC/PTR-MS comparisons. The measurement uncertainties associated with the Fast-GC quantification of monoterpenes are ≤ 12 %, while larger uncertainties (up to ∼ 25 %) are associated with the OBVOC and sesquiterpene measurements.

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Section: E Jones Et Al: a Novel Fast Gas Chromatography Methods Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

A novel fast gas chromatography method for higher time resolution measurements of speciated monoterpenes in air

et al. 2014

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“…Several portable detection technologies have been recently investigated for forensic analysis, including Raman spectroscopy [33], near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) [34], and X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XRF). Several portable MS systems featuring membrane introduction or GC separations have been reported [35,36], including the novel application of vehicle-mounted systems for spatial location of clandestine methamphetamine labs via volatile effluent mapping by Verbeck and co-workers [37], and although commercial products are available [38], they have yet to be broadly incorporated into forensic investigation and have preparative constraints similar to their lab-based counterparts.…”

Section: A Review Of the 2009 Census For Publicly Funded Forensicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analytical Validation of a Portable Mass Spectrometer Featuring Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for High Throughput Forensic Evidence Screening

Lawton

Traub

Fatigante

et al. 2016

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

103

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Abstract. Forensic evidentiary backlogs are indicative of the growing need for costeffective, high-throughput instrumental methods. One such emerging technology that shows high promise in meeting this demand while also allowing on-site forensic investigation is portable mass spectrometric (MS) instrumentation, particularly that which enables the coupling to ambient ionization techniques. While the benefits of rapid, on-site screening of contraband can be anticipated, the inherent legal implications of field-collected data necessitates that the analytical performance of technology employed be commensurate with accepted techniques. To this end, comprehensive analytical validation studies are required before broad incorporation by forensic practitioners can be considered, and are the focus of this work. Pertinent performance characteristics such as throughput, selectivity, accuracy/precision, method robustness, and ruggedness have been investigated. Reliability in the form of false positive/negative response rates is also assessed, examining the effect of variables such as user training and experience level. To provide flexibility toward broad chemical evidence analysis, a suite of rapidly-interchangeable ion sources has been developed and characterized through the analysis of common illicit chemicals and emerging threats like substituted phenethylamines.

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“…Analytical advantages of high sensitivity, high selectivity, and rapid response time make GC-MS a preferred detection tech-nique for CWAs and TICs [7]. GC-MS remains the standard for positive identification of unknown volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, and the preferred instrumentation for field detection and verification of chemical agents [1,8,9].…”

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confidence: 99%

Hand-portable gas chromatograph-toroidal ion trap mass spectrometer (GC-TMS) for detection of hazardous compounds

Contreras

Murray

Tolley³

et al. 2008

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

238

156

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A novel gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) based on a miniature toroidal ion trap mass analyzer (TMS) and a low thermal mass GC is described. The TMS system has an effective mass/charge (m/z) range of 50-442 with mass resolution at full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of 0.55 at m/z 91 and 0.80 at m/z 222. A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber mounted in a simple syringe-style holder is used for sample collection and introduction into a specially designed low thermal mass GC injection port. This portable GC-TMS system weighs <13 kg (28 lb), including batteries and helium carrier gas cartridge, and is totally self-contained within dimensions of 47 X 36 X 18 em (18.5 X 14 X 7 in.). System start-up takes about 3 min and sample analysis with library matching typically takes about 5 min, including time for column cool-down. Peak power consumption during sample analysis is about 80 W. Battery power and helium supply cartridges allow 50 and 100 consecutive analyses, respectively. Both can be easily replaced. An on-board library of target analytes is used to provide detection and identification of chemical compounds based on their characteristic retention times and mass spectra. The GC-TMS can detect 200 pg of methyl salicylate on-column. n-Butylbenzene and naphthalene can be detected at a concentration of 100 ppt in water from solid-phase microextraction (SPME) analysis of the headspace. The GC-TMS system has been designed to easily make measurements in a variety of complex and harsh environments. and toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), is a concern, the ability to rapidly detect and accurately identify such chemicals in harsh environments is of great utility. There is a need for field-portable, selective, and sensitive detectors for military and emergency first-responder operations and for on-site environmental contamination measurement, to mention only a couple of key applications. The development of fieldportable devices directed toward fast, on-site analysis is one of the most active research areas in analytical chemistry.Currently, several approaches for detection of CWAs and TICs are utilized by military personnel, first responders, and environmental scientists. They include dye solubility (detection paper), enzymatic reaction,

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Environmental and Forensic applications of field-portable GC-MS: An overview

Cited by 108 publications

References 8 publications

A novel fast gas chromatography method for higher time resolution measurements of speciated monoterpenes in air

A novel fast gas chromatography method for higher time resolution measurements of speciated monoterpenes in air

Analytical Validation of a Portable Mass Spectrometer Featuring Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for High Throughput Forensic Evidence Screening

Hand-portable gas chromatograph-toroidal ion trap mass spectrometer (GC-TMS) for detection of hazardous compounds

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