Adjusting mobility scales of ion mobility spectrometers using 2,6-D tBP as a reference compound

• Published in: Talanta (Oxford) Vol. 76; no. 5; pp. 1218 - 1223
• Main Authors: Viitanen, A.-K., Mauriala, T., Mattila, T., Adamov, A., Pedersen, C.S., Mäkelä, J.M., Marjamäki, M., Sysoev, A., Keskinen, J., Kotiaho, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 2008
• Subjects: 2,6-D tBP; IMS; Instrument comparison; Reference compound; Time-of-flight; Instrument comparison; Reference compound; IMS; Time-of-flight; 2,6-D tBP
• ISSN: 0039-9140; 1873-3573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2008.05.030

Performance of several time-of-flight (TOF) type ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) was compared in a joint measurement campaign and their mobility scales were adjusted based on the measurements. A standard reference compound 2,6-di- tert butylpyridine (2,6-D tBP) was used to create a single peak ion mobility distribution with a known mobility value. The effective length of the drift tube of each device, considered here as an instrument constant, was determined based on the measurements. Sequentially, two multi-peaked test compounds, DMMP and DIMP, were used to verify the performance of the adjustment procedure in a wider mobility scale. By determining the effective drift tube lengths using 2,6-D tBP, agreement between the devices was achieved. The determination of effective drift tube lengths according to standard reference compound was found to be a good method for instrument inter-comparison. The comparison procedure, its benefits and shortcomings as well as dependency on accuracy of literature value are discussed along with the results.