Patent ID: 9123520
Filing Date: 2015-09-01
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for selective detection of volatile and non-volatile explosives in a mass spectrometer or ion mobility spectrometer at a parts-per-quadrillion level without preconcentration, comprising the steps of: ionizing a carrier gas with an ionization source to form reactant ions or reactant adduct ions comprising nitrate ions (NO selectively reacting the reactant ions or reactant adduct ions with at least one volatile or non-volatile explosive analyte at a carrier gas pressure of at least about 100 Torr in a reaction region disposed between the ionization source and an ion detector, the reaction region having a length which provides a residence time (t wherein the selective reaction yields product ions comprising reactant ions or reactant adduct ions that are selectively bound to the at least one explosive analyte when present therein; and detecting product ions with the ion detector to determine presence or absence of the at least one explosive analyte.