Articles | Volume 8, issue 11
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-4637-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-4637-2015
Research article
 | 
04 Nov 2015
Research article |  | 04 Nov 2015

Real-time monitoring of trace-level VOCs by an ultrasensitive lamp-based VUV photoionization mass spectrometer

W. Q. Sun, J. N. Shu, P. Zhang, Z. Li, N. N. Li, M. Liang, and B. Yang

Related authors

Spatiotemporal variations in atmospheric CH4 concentrations and enhancements in northern China based on a comprehensive dataset: ground-based observations, TROPOMI data, inventory data, and inversions
Pengfei Han, Ning Zeng, Bo Yao, Wen Zhang, Weijun Quan, Pucai Wang, Ting Wang, Minqiang Zhou, Qixiang Cai, Yuzhong Zhang, Ruosi Liang, Wanqi Sun, and Shengxiang Liu
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 25, 4965–4988, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4965-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-25-4965-2025, 2025
Short summary
Increased primary and secondary H2SO4 showing the opposing roles in secondary organic aerosol formation from ethyl methacrylate ozonolysis
Peng Zhang, Tianzeng Chen, Jun Liu, Guangyan Xu, Qingxin Ma, Biwu Chu, Wanqi Sun, and Hong He
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 7099–7112, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-7099-2021,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-7099-2021, 2021
Short summary
Observed decreases in on-road CO2 concentrations in Beijing during COVID-19 restrictions
Di Liu, Wanqi Sun, Ning Zeng, Pengfei Han, Bo Yao, Zhiqiang Liu, Pucai Wang, Ke Zheng, Han Mei, and Qixiang Cai
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 4599–4614, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4599-2021,https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-4599-2021, 2021
Short summary

Related subject area

Subject: Gases | Technique: In Situ Measurement | Topic: Instruments and Platforms
Performance validation and calibration conditions for novel dynamic baseline tracking air sensors in long-term field monitoring
Han Mei, Peng Wei, Meisam Ahmadi Ghadikolaei, Nirmal Kumar Gali, Ya Wang, and Zhi Ning
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1771–1785, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1771-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1771-2025, 2025
Short summary
Observation of greenhouse gas vertical profiles in the boundary layer of the Mount Qomolangma region using a multirotor UAV
Ying Zhou, Congcong Qiao, Minqiang Zhou, Yilong Wang, Xiangjun Tian, Yinghong Wang, and Minzheng Duan
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1609–1619, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1609-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1609-2025, 2025
Short summary
Development of a portable laser-flash photolysis Faraday rotation spectrometer for measuring atmospheric total OH reactivity
Bo Fang, Nana Wei, Weixiong Zhao, Nana Yang, Hao Zhou, Heng Zhang, Jiarong Li, Weijun Zhang, Yanyu Lu, Zhu Zhu, and Yue Liu
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1243–1256, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1243-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1243-2025, 2025
Short summary
Surface distributions and vertical profiles of trace gases (CO, O3, NO, NO2) in the Arctic wintertime boundary layer using low-cost sensors during ALPACA-2022
Brice Barret, Patrice Medina, Natalie Brett, Roman Pohorsky, Kathy S. Law, Slimane Bekki, Gilberto J. Fochesatto, Julia Schmale, Steve R. Arnold, Andrea Baccarini, Maurizio Busetto, Meeta Cesler-Maloney, Barbara D'Anna, Stefano Decesari, Jingqiu Mao, Gianluca Pappaccogli, Joel Savarino, Federico Scoto, and William R. Simpson
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 1163–1184, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1163-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-1163-2025, 2025
Short summary
Advances in an OH reactivity instrument for airborne field measurements
Hendrik Fuchs, Aaron Stainsby, Florian Berg, René Dubus, Michelle Färber, Andreas Hofzumahaus, Frank Holland, Kelvin H. Bates, Steven S. Brown, Matthew M. Coggon, Glenn S. Diskin, Georgios I. Gkatzelis, Christopher M. Jernigan, Jeff Peischl, Michael A. Robinson, Andrew W. Rollins, Nell B. Schafer, Rebecca H. Schwantes, Chelsea E. Stockwell, Patrick R. Veres, Carsten Warneke, Eleanor M. Waxman, Lu Xu, Kristen Zuraski, Andreas Wahner, and Anna Novelli
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 18, 881–895, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-881-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-18-881-2025, 2025
Short summary

Cited articles

Cheng, M. H. Y., Coalson, R. D., and Tang, P.: Molecular dynamics and brownian dynamics investigation of ion permeation and anesthetic halothane effects on a proton-gated ion channel, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 132, 16442–16449, 2010.
de Gouw, J. and Warneke C.: Measurements of volatile organic compounds in the earths atmosphere using proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry, Mass Spectrom. Rev., 26, 223–257, 2007.
Elsom, D. M.: Smog alert: Managing urban air quality, Earthscan Publications, 1996.
Gamez, G., Zhu, L., Schmitz, T. A., and Zenobi, R.: Photoelectron emission as an alternative electron impact ionization source for ion trap mass spectrometry, Anal. Chem., 80, 6791–6795, 2008.
Gee, I. L. and Sollars, C. J.: Ambient air levels of volatile organic compounds in Latin American and Asian cities, Chemosphere, 36, 2497–2506, 1998.
Download
Short summary
A novel ultrasensitive VUV photoionization mass spectrometer is developed to monitor trace-level VOCs in real time. By employing a light baffle in the photoionizer, the background noise is efficiently suppressed and the detection limit reaches to a low pptv level. Continuous monitoring of VOCs in urban air demonstrates the strength of this instrument. This study reveals that the new technique may have the capability of ranking with the PTR-MS for field measurements.
Share