Microplasma jet mass spectrometry of halogenated organic compounds

Abstract

The microhollow cathode discharge is investigated as a promising miniaturized ionization source for mass spectrometry. The plasma operated at atmospheric pressure generates power densities of about 1 MW cm⁻³ at a small input power of 1 W. It has the advantage of focused sample introduction in the plasma core, exhibits good analytical reproducibility and a long lifetime. The microhollow cathode discharge-mass spectrometry delivers detection limits in the pg s⁻¹ range (corresponding to a few ppb_v/v) for halogenated molecules in gaseous or volatile samples.