Detection of Toluene, Methanol and Formaldehyde Using Corona Discharge Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Abstract

Polluted air, indoors, and outdoors, that contains hazardous matters or contaminants creates a hazard to general health. Ion mobility spectrometry is a very promising method for the detection of air pollutants. In this work, the experimental parameters of corona discharge ion mobility spectrometer (CD-IMS), such as the discharge distance, the drift tube temperature and the drift gas flow rate, are discussed and determined in terms of stable ionization and better reactant ion peak quality. The optimal conditions of the CD-IMS are applied to the detection of toluene, methanol and formaldehyde with the detection limits of 7.8, 11.3, and 4.6 ppb_v, respectively. This provides an alternative and sensitive method for detection of air pollutants.

Keywords:

• Air pollutant detection
• Corona discharge ionization
• Ion mobility spectrometry

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 60901048).