Portable Tandem Mass Spectrometer Analyzer

Abstract : This report documents Phase 1 of a two-phased project to develop a portable tandem mass spectral analyzer to be used in environmental characterizations of contaminated and suspected contaminated sites of Air Force properties. Phase 1 was a laboratory prototyping study and Phase 2 was to entail the construction of an actual portable prototype instrument. Phase 1 accomplishments include the development of an atmospheric pressure ionization source for a compact commercial mass spectrometer, fundamental studies of the atmospheric pressure ionization processes, and the development of rapid gas chromatographic pre-separation methods intended to enhance the instrument's performance when analyzing complex samples.