Laser Mass Spectrometry: Rapid Analysis of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Exhaust Gas of Disposal Plants

Abstract

Effective prevention from the leakage of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) requires the rapid analysis with on-line detection, but conventional methods require extensive analytical time (several days per sample) and are thus unsuitable. The objective of the research reported here was to develop the Laser Ionization / Ion Trap Storage / Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (LI-IT-TOFMS) capable of monitoring PCBs within 1 min/sample, as applied to exhaust gas and the atmosphere of the disposal work environment. The achievable PCBs sensitivity for on-line measurement was found to be in the pptV range (< 0.01 mg/m 3 N) by means of comparison with conventional gas sampling and gas chromatographmass spectrometry (GC-MS). A satisfactory proportional relationship was confirmed between laser-based and conventional results for PCBs. We measured the exhaust gas in a PCBs treatment plant (hydrothermal decomposition and container treatment processes) by using the PCBs monitoring system, confirming that PCBs monitoring is possible without interference from either the main gas composition or minor coexisting substances. Accordingly, the LI-IT-TOFMS method is a useful method for the trace analysis of PCBs in exhaust gas.

Automated Analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Gas Phase by Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometry

“…45), 46) We used the internal standard gas (2,4-di-chlorinated toluene) in order to check the correct operation of the monitoring system. 46) It was confirmed that the PCB concentration in the environmental gas (which is substantially lower than the value of 0.10 mg/m 3 N as specified by statutory regulations), can be analyzed within 1 min.…”

“…4.4.2 Applicability of the exhaust gas and the atmosphere of the work environment 45) In the exhaust gas of the hydrothermal decomposition processes and the workplace atmosphere, the main components were N 2 , CO 2 , O 2 , and H 2 O and air. These gases were contaminated by several trace components attributed to insulating oils, cleaning chemicals, and their decomposition products to the order of mg/m 3 N. The concentrations of these trace components were dependent on the plant operating conditions and varied by several orders of magnitude.…”

Comparison of the Detection Characteristics of Trace Species Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Laser Breakdown Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

“…The detection limit of measured species using TOFMS is often ppb or less. TOFMS with several ionization processes has been applied to measure hydrocarbons and nanoparticle constituents at low concentration ranges of ppb–ppt [ 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], as well as waste disposal and treatment plants [ 51 , 52 , 53 ]. There are other developed TOFMS applications in several fields, such as the medical and pharmaceutical fields [ 54 , 55 ].…”

Breakdown Pattern of Hydrocarbons by Laser Breakdown Time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

“…TOFMS has been applied to measure hydrocarbons and nanoparticle constituents with low concentration range of ppb-ppt, [25][26][27][28][29] as well as waste disposal and treatment plant. [30,31] Considering the features of TOFMS, the combined method of laser breakdown and TOFMS becomes an attractive tool for trace elemental composition measurement. [29] In this method, the laser is introduced to break and ionize the measured species with detection of atomic ion signals using TOFMS.…”