K. Sharara et al., Development of membrane introduction mass spectrometry for monitoring trace organics in water, WATER SCI T, 41(10-11), 2000, pp. 373-380
This paper describes the design of membrane inlet systems for detection of
trace contaminants in environmental samples by Membrane Introduction Mass S
pectrometry. A quadropole mass spectrometer equipped with a pervaporation m
embrane and a jet separator interface was used. The hollow fibre pervaporat
ion membrane was mounted in a cell with transverse flow. Low-level (ppb-ppm
) organic compounds (benzene, chloroform, 1,1,1-trichloroethane) in aqueous
solutions in the absence or presence of a surfactant could be detected by
this technique. The effect of feed flow rate, feed temperature and concentr
ation on membrane performance including flux and enrichment were studied in
both binary and multi-component solutions. Fluxes for organic compound inc
reases with flow rate, temperature and feed concentration. Enrichment decre
ased with temperature. The presence of a surfactant reduced the flux at ver
y high concentrations (Triton X-100; 18 g/l), but the effect was lower than
expected. An example is given of industrial feed analysed using this techn
ique.