Application of proton-transfer-reaction-mass-spectrometry for Indoor Air Quality research

• DOI: 10.1111/ina.12061
• Publication Date: 2013-07-20T08:28:42Z
• Authors: T. Schripp; S. Etienne; C. Fauck; F. Fuhrmann; L. Märk; T. Salthammer
• Keywords: Volatile organic compound

In the field of Indoor Air Quality research, measurement volatile organic compounds (VOCs) demands instruments that are rapid, mobile, robust, highly sensitive and allow for simultaneous monitoring multiple compounds. These should also compensate possible interferences from permanent gases air humidity. Proton-transfer-reaction-mass-spectrometry (PTR-MS) has proved to be a valuable promising technique fits mentioned requirements suitable online measuring device. this study, five exemplary applications PTR-MS described: (i) release paint additives during drying process, (ii) emission VOCs active hardcopy devices, (iii) reference material evaluation, (iv) diffusion studies, (v) testing building products. The examples selected illustrate possibilities limitations PTR in research. quadruple-based PTR-QMS was able determine characteristics experiments, especially case depleting sources (e.g., material). This allows chemometrical analysis measured patterns detection underlying processes. However, reaches functional limit compound identification. If identification is necessary, measurements need accompanied by GC/MS analytics or instrument with higher mass-resolution PTR-TOF-MS).