A NEW METHOD OF SEPARATION OF MULTI-ATOMIC IONS BY MOBILITY AT ATMOSPHERIC-PRESSURE USING A HIGH-FREQUENCY AMPLITUDE-ASYMMETRIC STRONG ELECTRIC-FIELD

The general principles of a new method of ion separation in dense air- gas media using an asymmetric high-frequency electric field are given. With this method ion separation is realized due to the different depe ndences of the individual transverse ion mobility coefficients on the electric field. The drift-spectra of the ions from a homological serie s of tertiary amines are presented as well as the results of mass spec trometric identification of the various ions representing the separate peaks in the mobility spectra. The possibility of continuous recordin g and identification of trace amounts of amines in atmospheric air is shown.