Triacetone triperoxide detection using low reduced-field proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer

Proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) was applied to on-line detection of the explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) using a discharge gas of water vapor or alternative ammonia in the ion source. The dependence of ionic intensity on reduced-field in the drift tube was investigated, and the results indicate that an irregular operation using low reduced-field can enhance TATP detection due to reduced collision-induced dissociation in the drift tube. When water vapor is used as the discharge gas, the characteristic ions for TATP identification are [TATP + H]+ which are detectable at a reduced-field about 50 Td. If ammonia is the discharge gas, PTR-MS exhibits a better sensitivity, the explosive TATP can be discriminated according to the adduct ions [TATP + NH4]+, and a limit of detection at ppb level can be achieved at a reduced-field around 100 Td in this PTR-MS apparatus. PTR-MS is suggested as a potential tool for on-site detection of the explosive TATP with the advantages of rapid response and high sensitivity without sample pretreatment.