A negative-ion creation technique by Rydberg electron capture (REC) is used
to ionise 1,2,3,4 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,4-TCDD), Negative ion
s are mass-analysed by a commercial quadrupole mass spectrometer and also b
y a home-made mass spectrometer using a quadrupole ion trap. From spectra o
f 1,2,3,4-TCDD a comparison between the REC ionisation technique and two ot
her soft ionisation techniques, electron capture chemical ionisation (ECCI)
and the electron monochromator (EM), are discussed.