Electron impact ionization of 1-butanol: I. Mass spectra and partial ionization cross sections

Abstract Experimental measurements of the cations created through electron impact ionization have been undertaken for the primary isomer of butanol, using a Hiden Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (EPIC 300) with a mass resolution of 1 amu. The mass spectrum recorded at an incident electron energy of 70 eV, normalized and placed on an absolute scale, reveals the relative probability of forming 76 different cations of butanol by either direct ionization or dissociative ionization. Individual partial ionization cross sections (PICS) for the 38 main cationic fragments, measured at electron energies in the range 10–100 eV, are also reported for the first time in this work.