Discrimination of isomers and isobars by varying the reduced-field across drift tube in proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS)

Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is a powerful technique for the real time trace gas analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) used in PTR-MS has a relatively low mass resolution and is therefore not suitable for differentiating isobars. Furthermore, because of the lack of chemical separation before analysis, isomers can not be identified, either. In the present study, by varying the reduced-field E/N in the reaction chamber with a range of 50–180 Td in PTR-MS, we studied the product ion distribution (PID) of three sets of isobars/isomers, i.e. n-propanol/iso-propanol/acetic acid, propanal/acetone and four structural isomers of butyl alcohol. The profiles of the reduced-field dependence (PFD) of the PID under the chosen E/N-values show obvious differences which can be used to discriminate between these isobars/isomers thus enabling the titled method. Noticeably, we have observed that even the isomers, in the case of four structural isomers of butyl alcohol, which show little difference with each other at high reduced-field, can be discriminated easily at low reduced-field. Finally, two examples for the application of this method are discussed: (1) cyclohexanone was identified to be a major compound in the headspace of medical infusion sets; and (2) the differentiation and quantification of propanal and acetone in three synthetic mixtures with different ratios. This study presents a potential method to distinguish and quantify isobars/isomers conveniently in practical applications of PTR-MS analysis without additional instrumental configurations.     

Development of a new gas sensor for binary mixtures based on the permselectivity of polymeric membranes: Application to carbon dioxide/methane and carbon dioxide/helium mixtures

Membrane-based gas sensors were developed and used for determining the composition on bi-component mixtures in the 0-100% range, such as oxygen/nitrogen and carbon dioxide/methane (biogas). These sensors are low cost and are aimed at a low/medium precision market.The paper describes the use of this sensor for two gas mixtures: carbon dioxide/methane and carbon dioxide/helium. The membranes used are poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and Teflon-AF hollow fibers. The response curves for both sensors were obtained at three different temperatures. The results clearly indicate that the permeate pressure of the sensors relates to the gas mixture composition at a given temperature. The data is represented by a third order polynomial. The sensors enable quantitative carbon dioxide analysis in binary mixtures with methane or helium. The response of the sensors is fast (less than 50 s), continuous, reproducible and long-term stable over a period of 2.3×10⁷ s (9 months). The absolute sensitivity of the sensors depends on the carbon dioxide feed concentration ranging from 0.03 to 0.13 MPa.     

Influence of weakly bound adduct ions on breath trace gas analysis by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS)

This paper describes how weakly bound adduct ions form when the precursor ions used in selected ion flow mass spectrometry, SIFT-MS, analyses, viz. H₃O⁺, NO⁺ and O₂⁺, associate with the major components of air and exhaled breath, N₂, O₂ and CO₂. These adduct ions, which include H₃O⁺N₂, H₃O⁺CO₂, NO⁺CO₂, O₂⁺O₂ and O₂⁺CO₂, are clearly seen when dry air containing 5% CO₂ (typical of that in exhaled breath) is analysed using SIFT-MS. These adduct ions must not be misinterpreted as characteristic product ions of trace gases; if so, serious analytical errors can result. However, when exhaled breath is analysed these adduct ions are partly removed by ligand switching reactions with the abundant water molecules and the problems they represent are alleviated. But the small fractions of the adduct ions that remain in the SIFT-MS spectra, and especially when they are isobaric with genuine characteristic product ion of breath trace gases, can result in erroneous quantifications; such is the case for H₃O⁺N₂ interfering with breath ethanol analysis and H₃O⁺CO₂ with breath acetaldehyde analysis. However, these difficulties can be overcome when the isobaric adduct ions are properly recognised and excluded from the analyses; then these two important compounds can be properly quantified in breath. The presence of O₂⁺CO₂ in the product ion spectra interferes with the analysis of CS₂ present at low levels in exhaled breath. It is likely that similar problems will occur as other trace compounds are detected in exhaled breath when consideration will have to be given to the possibility of overlapping between their characteristic product ions and ions produced by hitherto unknown reactions. Similar problems are evident in other systems; for example, H₃O⁺CH₄ adduct ions are observed in both SIFT-MS analyses of methane rich mixtures like biologically generated waste gases and in model planetary atmospheres.     

Monitoring benzene formation from benzoate in model systems by proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry

The presence of benzene in food and in particular in soft drinks has been reported in several studies and should be considered in fundamental investigations about formation of this carcinogen compound as well as in quality control.Proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) has been used here for rapid, direct quantification of benzene and to monitor its formation in model systems related to the use of benzoate, a common preservative, in presence of ascorbic acid: a widespread situation that yields benzene in, e.g., soft drinks and fruit juices.Firstly, we demonstrate here that PTR-MS allows a rapid determination of benzene that is in quantitative agreement with independent solid phase micro-extraction/gas chromatography (SPME/GC) analysis. Secondly, as a case study, the effect of different sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose) on benzene formation is investigated indicating that they inhibit its formation and that this effect is enhanced for reducing sugars. The sugar-induced inhibition of benzene formation depends on several parameters (type and concentration of sugar, temperature, time) but can be more than 80% in situations that can be expected in the storage of commercial soft drinks. This is consistent with the reported observations of higher benzene concentrations in sugar-free soft drinks.     

Role of carbon dioxide in the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation coupled with reverse water–gas shift

The dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene (EB) to styrene (ST) in the presence of carbon dioxide instead of steam is believed to be an energy-saving and environmentally friendly process. However, the reaction mechanism for this coupling system still remains unclear. Therefore, the role of carbon dioxide was investigated by means of catalytic reactions and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of carbon dioxide over a series of Fe and V supported catalysts as well as thermodynamic analysis. The results showed that the ethylbenzene conversion is associated with the conversion of carbon dioxide, and that there exists a synergistic effect between the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation and the reverse water–gas shift. However, the difference in the behaviour of the catalysts between the single reverse water–gas shift and the coupled ethylbenzene dehydrogenation may suggest that the catalysts are different in the reaction mechanisms for the coupled ethylbenzene dehydrogenation. Carbon dioxide can be activated through either basic sites or redox sites on the catalyst. Based on these results, the role of carbon dioxide and reaction mechanisms are proposed.     

Analysis of human breath with micro extraction techniques and continuous monitoring of carbon dioxide concentration

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breath can be useful for the clinical routine diagnosis of several diseases in a non-invasive manner. Traditional methods of breath analysis have some major technical problems and limitations. Membrane extraction with a sorbent interface (MESI), however, has many advantages over current methods, including good selectivity and sensitivity, and is well suited for breath analysis. The aim of this project was to develop a simple and reproducible sampling device and method based on the MESI system for breath analysis. The feasibility and validity of the MESI system was tested with real human breath samples. Internal standard calibration methods were used for the quantitative analysis of various breath samples. Calibration curves for some main components (target analytes such as acetone and pentane) were determined in the research. The optimized stripping-side and feeding-side gas velocities were determined. The use of breath CO₂ as an internal standard for the analysis of breath VOCs is an effective method to solve the difficulties associated with variations in the target analyte concentrations in a sample, which are attributed to mass losses and different breathing patterns of different subjects. In this study, the concentration of breath acetone was successfully expressed normalized to CO₂ as in the alveolar air. Breath acetone of healthy males and females profiled at different times of the day was plotted using the MESI system, and results were consistent with the literature. This technique can be used for monitoring breath acetone concentrations of diabetic patients and for applications with other biomarker monitoring.     

Regioselectivity in nickel(0) catalyzed cycloadditions of carbon dioxide with diynes

The regioselectivity of Ni(0)-catalyzed cycloadditions of CO₂ (1 atm) with various asymmetrical diynes to afford pyrones was explored. The use of 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene (IPr) provided high regioselectivity when one terminal substituent on the diyne was a methyl group and the other was medium or large in size (R_L=i-Pr, t-Bu, or TMS). In contrast, the use of a relatively small N-heterocyclic carbene, 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes), afforded high selectivity only when R_L was large (TMS). X-ray crystal analysis of the major isomer indicated that the relatively large R_L group was in the 3-position of the pyrone.     

Reaction between carbon dioxide and elementary fluorine

Reactions between carbon dioxide and fluorine were examined at temperatures of 303-523 K under various pressure and mixture ratios of both gases. Reactions were carried out similarly under the existence of NaF, CsF and EuF₃.After the reaction, fluorine was removed and the reaction products were analyzed using FT-IR, GC/FT-IR and GC/MS. The major products were CF₃OF, COF₂, CF₄ and CF₂(OF)₂.The best yield of COF₂ was 11.1% under the reaction condition of CO₂/F₂ = 76 kPa/76 kPa with temperature of 498 K for 72 h in a direct reaction. The formation rate of COF₂ in the direct reaction was estimated as 0.232 dm³ mol⁻¹ h⁻¹ under the reaction conditions of CO₂/F₂ = 76 kPa/76 kPa, at 498 K. In the presence of CsF, it was estimated as 1.88 dm³ mol⁻¹ h⁻¹ at CO₂/F₂ = 76 kPa/76 kPa at 498 K.The activation energy of the COF₂ formation in the direct reaction was estimated as 45.7 kJ mol⁻¹ at CO₂/F₂ = 76 kPa/76 kPa at 498 K. In addition, 24.2 and 38.9 kJ mol⁻¹ were evaluated at CO₂/F₂ = 76 kPa/76 kPa at 498 K, respectively, in the presence of CsF and EuF₃.     

Transport parameters of carbon dioxide in poly(etheretherketone) membranes

Sorption and permeability measurements have been performed to determine the transport parameters of carbon dioxide through dense homogeneous PEEKWC membranes. The enthalpy of solution of CO₂ is exothermic. The concentration dependence of diffusion has been measured. Permeability coefficients obtained from sorption data have been compared with the experimental values, obtaining a good agreement.     

The use of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry for high throughput screening of terpene synthases

In this work, we introduce the application of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) for the selection of improved terpene synthase mutants. In comparison with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based methods, PTR-MS could offer advantages by reduction of sample preparation steps and analysis time. The method we propose here allows for minimal sample preparation and analysis time and provides a promising platform for the high throughput screening (HTS) of large enzyme mutant libraries. To investigate the feasibility of a PTR-MS-based screening method, we employed a small library of Callitropsis nootkatensis valencene synthase (CnVS) mutants. Bacterial cultures expressing enzyme mutants were subjected to different growth formats, and headspace terpenes concentrations measured by PTR-Qi-ToF-MS were compared with GC-MS, to rank the activity of the enzyme mutants. For all cultivation formats, including 96 deep well plates, PTR-Qi-ToF-MS resulted in the same ranking of the enzyme variants, compared with the canonical format using 100 mL flasks and GC-MS analysis. This study provides a first basis for the application of rapid PTR-Qi-ToF-MS detection, in combination with multi-well formats, in HTS screening methods for the selection of highly productive terpene synthases.     

Influence of sorbed carbon dioxide on transition temperatures of poly(p-phenylene sulphide)

Static pressure usually increases the transition temperatures of polymers by decreasing their free volume. If the pressurizing medium is soluble in the polymer matrix, the opposing effect of increasing the free volume is possible. Those shifts of transition temperatures were monitored with a medium-pressure Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) device. The influences of sorbed and surrounding gas molecules are demonstrated by changes occurring in the transition temperature regions. The results show the severe plasticizing effect of CO₂ on poly(p-phenylene sulphide) (PPS). The glass transition temperature T_G and the temperature of crystallization T_C are influenced by sorbed gas molecules. They decrease due to sorbed CO₂ molecules. Glass transition is lowered, but is difficult to interpret, as relaxation phenomena which diminish with increasing pressure occur during DSC runs. In crystallites no gas solution is usually possible, so that the melting point of PPS is mainly affected by influences other than plasticization.     

二氧化碳中一氧化氮气体标准物质研制

研制二氧化碳中一氧化氮气体标准物质。以高纯二氧化碳和一氧化氮气体标准物质为原料,采用称量法制备二氧化碳中一氧化氮气体标准物质,用气体分析仪对制备的标准物质浓度进行检测,并对该标准物质定值结果的不确定度进行评定。研制的二氧化碳中一氧化氮气体标准物质中一氧化氮的浓度为5,25,50 μmol/mol,相对扩展不确定度为3.0% (k=2)。该气体标准物质具有良好的均匀性和稳定性,可用于食品级二氧化碳分析方法的确认和评价。     

Determination of carbon dioxide in gaseous samples by gas diffusion-flow injection

A gas diffusion-flow injection system was developed for the determination of carbon dioxide in gaseous samples. The calibration was based on the use of either gaseous carbon dioxide or aqueous sodium carbonate standards. Gaseous carbon dioxide samples and gaseous or aqueous standards were injected directly into a donor stream of 1.0×10⁻⁴ M H₂SO₄. In the gas diffusion unit, carbon dioxide diffused through a PTFE membrane into an acceptor stream containing a mixed acid/base indicator. The absorbance of the acceptor stream was monitored spectrophotometrically at 554 nm. The calibration plot was linear over the range of 5.00×10² to 1.27×10⁴ μl l⁻¹ with a sample throughput of 28 h⁻¹ and 3.2% R.S.D. ([CO₂]=2.37×10³ μl l⁻¹, n=12). The detection limit was determined as 2.50×10² μl l⁻¹. The flow system was successfully applied to the analysis of several natural gaseous samples and the headspace of milk containers during storage. The flow injection results were found to be statistically indistinguishable at the 95% confidence level from those obtained by gas chromatography using thermal conductivity detection.     

Computer simulation of the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid (II) internal energy and structure of carbon dioxide system containing one benzene molecule

Using potential models based on ab initio quantum chemical calculations, we study a supercritical CO₂ fluid containing one benzene molecule using Monte Carlo simulations. First, molecular average internal energy is calculated for the whole system and for the first solvation shell of the benzene molecule. This analysis shows that the CO₂ molecules in the first solvation shell have a large energetic stabilization owing to the shape of the solute. In addition to the stabilization, the solute-solvent interactions in the first solvation shell show large fluctuations for both the in-plane and out-of-plane parts. Secondly, an orientational distribution function is defined to investigate the CO₂ fluid structure. This function indicates that the CO₂---CO₂ intermolecular configuration has a large dependence on the temperature of the system for both the whole system, and for the first solvation shell of the solute. Moreover, the benzene molecule is confirmed to control the mutual arrangement between neighboring CO₂ molecules.     

Simultaneous spectrophotometric flow-through measurements of pH, carbon dioxide fugacity, and total inorganic carbon in seawater

An autonomous multi-parameter flow-through CO₂ system has been developed to simultaneously measure surface seawater pH, carbon dioxide fugacity (fCO₂), and total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). All three measurements are based on spectrophotometric determinations of solution pH at multiple wavelengths using sulfonephthalein indicators. The pH optical cell is machined from a PEEK polymer rod bearing a bore-hole with an optical pathlength of ∼15 cm. The fCO₂ optical cell consists of Teflon AF 2400 (DuPont) capillary tubing sealed within the bore-hole of a PEEK rod. This Teflon AF tubing is filled with a standard indicator solution with a fixed total alkalinity, and forms a liquid core waveguide (LCW). The LCW functions as both a long pathlength (∼15 cm) optical cell and a membrane that equilibrates the internal standard solution with external seawater. fCO₂ is then determined by measuring the pH of the internal solution. DIC is measured by determining the pH of standard internal solutions in equilibrium with seawater that has been acidified to convert all forms of DIC to CO₂. The system runs repetitive measurement cycles with a sampling frequency of ∼7 samples (21 measurements) per hour. The system was used for underway measurements of sea surface pH, fCO₂, and DIC during the CLIVAR/CO₂ A16S cruise in the South Atlantic Ocean in 2005. The field precisions were evaluated to be 0.0008 units for pH, 0.9 μatm for fCO₂, and 2.4 μmol kg⁻¹ for DIC. These field precisions are close to those obtained in the laboratory. Direct comparison of our measurements and measurements obtained using established standard methods revealed that the system achieved field agreements of 0.0012 ± 0.0042 units for pH, 1.0 ± 2.5 μatm for fCO₂, and 2.2 ± 6.0 μmol kg⁻¹ for DIC. This system integrates spectrophotometric measurements of multiple CO₂ parameters into a single package suitable for observations of both seawater and freshwater.     

Rapid characterization of dry cured ham produced following different PDOs by proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS)

In the present study, the recently developed proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) technique was used for the rapid characterization of dry cured hams produced according to 4 of the most important Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs): an Iberian one (Dehesa de Extremadura) and three Italian ones (Prosciutto di San Daniele, Prosciutto di Parma and Prosciutto Toscano). In total, the headspace composition and respective concentration for nine Spanish and 37 Italian dry cured ham samples were analyzed by direct injection without any pre-treatment or pre-concentration. Firstly, we show that the rapid PTR-ToF-MS fingerprinting in conjunction with chemometrics (Principal Components Analysis) indicates a good separation of the dry cured ham samples according to their production process and that it is possible to set up, using data mining methods, classification models with a high success rate in cross validation. Secondly, we exploited the higher mass resolution of the new PTR-ToF-MS, as compared with standard quadrupole based versions, for the identification of the exact sum formula of the mass spectrometric peaks providing analytical information on the observed differences. The work indicates that PTR-ToF-MS can be used as a rapid method for the identification of differences among dry cured hams produced following the indications of different PDOs and that it provides information on some of the major volatile compounds and their link with the implemented manufacturing practices such as rearing system, salting and curing process, manufacturing practices that seem to strongly affect the final volatile organic profile and thus the perceived quality of dry cured ham.     

Density measurements on binary mixtures (nitrogen + carbon dioxide and argon + carbon dioxide) at temperatures from (298.15 to 423.15) K with pressures from (11 to 31) MPa using a single-sinker densimeter

A single-sinker densimeter was built to specifically investigate the (p, ρ, T, x) behavior of fluid mixtures relevant for carbon capture and storage (CCS). Due to the use of a magnetic-suspension coupling, the densimeter enables measurements over the temperature range from (273.15 to 423.15) K with pressures up to 35 MPa. A comprehensive analysis of the experimental uncertainties was undertaken. The expanded uncertainties (k = 2) are 35 mK for temperature, 3.39 kPa for pressure, and 0.033% for density determination. The apparatus was used for measurements on the binary systems (nitrogen + carbon dioxide) and (argon + carbon dioxide). The compositions for both systems were (0.05 and 0.01) mole fraction carbon dioxide. Density measurements were carried out at temperatures from (298.15 to 423.15) K with pressures from (11 to 31) MPa. The relative combined expanded uncertainty (k = 2) in density was 0.15% for the (nitrogen + carbon dioxide) mixtures and 0.12% for the (argon + carbon dioxide) mixtures. A major contribution to this uncertainty emerged from the uncertainty in the gas mixture composition. The new experimental data were compared to the GERG-2008 equation of state (EOS) for natural-gas mixtures as implemented in the NIST REFPROP database and to the EOS-CG, another new Helmholtz energy model for CCS mixtures as implemented in the TREND software package of Ruhr-University Bochum. Relative deviations were mostly within 0.5%. The agreement of the new density values with the only available literature data closest to the composition range under study was better than 0.1%.     

Convenient synthesis of ethylene carbonates from carbon dioxide and 1,2-diols at atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide

An efficient and convenient synthesis of ethylene carbonates was achieved by the reaction of carbon dioxide with 1,2-diols in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), followed by treatment with 1-bromobutane. This DBU-promoted transformation proceeded at an atmospheric pressure of carbon dioxide at 25 °C and gave ethylene carbonates in good yields.     

Determination of fentanyl in human breath by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Fentanyl, a kind of intravenous narcotic analgesic, is widely used in clinical anesthesia. As a potential pollution, it was detected in both the air of the cardiothoracic operating room and patients' expiratory circuit. However, whether the fentanyl in patients' expiratory circuit is exhaled by patients is unknown. In this study, breath samples were taken from the expiratory circuits of anesthetic machine linked to the patients who received intravenous fentanyl, a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was developed to detect and quantify fentanyl in breath samples. The parameters influencing adsorption (extraction time, temperature,) and desorption (desorption time) of the analyte on the fiber were investigated and validated for method development. The developed method was proved to be simple, easy, and inexpensive and offer high sensitivity and reproducibility. Linear range was obtained from 0.05 ng/mL to 0.8 ng/mL. The limit of detection was 0.01 ng/mL while an interday precision of less than 12.13% (n = 5) could be achieved. Six patients were involved in this study; results showed presence of fentanyl in the breath of patients who received intravenous fentanyl, and fentanyl concentrations in breath varied from 6.00 to 20.89 pg/mL. In conclusion, fentanyl can be exhaled by patients who received intravenous fentanyl.