Water-assisted low temperature plasma ionization source for sensitive detection of explosives
Abstract
A water-assisted low temperature plasma (WALTP) ionization source based on a quartz T shaped tube was developed for a miniature rectilinear ion trap mass spectrometer to sensitively detect explosives at low picogram levels. By introducing wet air into the plasma stream through the side tube, the explosives responses and repeatability were improved, and the mass spectra were simplified.