C. Brede et al., Capillary gas chromatography coupled with negative ionization microplasma mass spectrometry for halogen-selective detection, J ANAL ATOM, 15(1), 1999, pp. 55-60
Gas chromatography was coupled with plasma mass spectrometry with a micropl
asma ion source for negative ion detection. The ion source, which was kept
inside the high vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer, was a rigid fused
silica capillary tube containing a capacitively coupled radiofrequency heli
um plasma. This made the setup quite simple: eliminating the sampler-skimme
r pressure-reducing interface traditionally used in plasma mass spectrometr
y. The present study describes the utilization of halogen-selective negativ
e ion detection. A high selectivity of fluorine to hydrocarbon compounds (3
x 10(3)), and a highly sensitive detection for F, Cl, Br, and I (0.13-12 p
g s(-1)), were obtained. The mechanisms of negative ion formation and break
down were discussed in conjunction with the results that were achieved.