Detection of perfluorocarbons using ion mobility spectrometry Original Research Article

An ISAS custom-designed ion mobility spectrometer equipped with a 63Ni ionization source is used for the sensitive detection of traces of perfluorocarbons (PFCs, C5F12 to C9F20) in air, a class of substances for which a growing interest for industrial and environmental applications arose within the last years. Mobility spectra of the PFCs are presented, compared and discussed with regard to the possibility of identifying these analytes; detection limits are determined to be in the upper ng l−1 range. Using a specific PFC as an example, a way to prevent unwanted contributions of non-product ions, the difference mobility spectrum, is introduced and described. Advantages and possibilities of this technique are briefly discussed.