ACE 1100 IMR-MS is a quadrupole ion-molecule reaction mass spectrometer for qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile organic compounds.
Unlike GC-MS and LC-MS, where chromatographic separation can take minutes and require sample preparation and a skilled operator, this instrument introduces samples directly into the mass spectrometer. Results arrive in tens of seconds without separation or preparation. Direct introduction is covered by patent registration 10-2132977.
Water and air pass through microwave plasma to produce reagent ions. The first mass filter selects a reagent ion and sends it to the reaction chamber, where it ionizes analyte molecules. The second mass filter separates the resulting ions by mass-to-charge ratio, and a secondary electron multiplier records the signal.
Soft chemical ionization keeps fragmentation minimal and produces straightforward spectra, unlike electron ionization spectra that require fragment-library searching. Supported mechanisms are proton transfer, electron transfer, dissociative electron transfer, hydride abstraction and association.
The system supports continuous 24/7 monitoring. Mounted in a vehicle, it measures while moving or stationary and sends data by 4G to a remote control center; drone integration is supported. On-site analysis avoids sample changes during collection, transport and storage, and reduces inspectors' exposure to contaminated areas.
Applications include air and water pollution, odors, indoor air and vehicle-interior materials, workplace safety, airborne molecular contamination in semiconductor processes, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food production and rapid diagnostics.
Target compounds include acetaldehyde, acetylene, acrolein, acrylonitrile, benzene, butadiene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloroethane, formaldehyde, n-hexane, isopropanol, methanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methylene chloride, methyl tert-butyl ether, propylene, propylene oxide, trichloroethylene, ethylbenzene, nitrobenzene, toluene, tetrachloroethylene, xylene and styrene. Odor compounds include ammonia, methyl mercaptan, hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide and disulfide, trimethylamine, butyric acid and valeric acid.
Built-in software controls the instrument and displays results. ACECube covers method development, qualitative and quantitative analysis, analyte libraries and data processing. ACECube-MS adds mapped monitoring, color-coded alarms, statistics, automatic PDF reports and integration with gas analyzers, an anemometer and GPS for mobile laboratories.
