Rapid Estimation of Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen by Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A simple and rapid method has been developed for the quantitative determination of CO and N₂ in mixtures by quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), based on the fragmentation patterns of the pure gases and the relative sensitivity factors of these gases at m/e 14. Synthetic gas mixtures of CO+N₂ over the entire range of compositions (5–95% of N₂) were prepared and analysed by QMS and the result6 were compared witha LECO nitrogen determinator. The estimations are well within 5% over the entire range.

Key Words:

• Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen analysis