查看文章

Proton‐transfer‐reaction mass spectrometry (PTR‐MS) allows real‐time measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air with a high sensitivity and a fast time response. The use of PTR‐MS in atmospheric research has expanded rapidly in recent years, and much has been learned about the instrument response and specificity of the technique in the analysis of air from different regions of the atmosphere. This paper aims to review the progress that has been made. The theory of operation is described and allows the response of the instrument to be described for different operating conditions. More accurate determinations of the instrument response involve calibrations using standard mixtures, and some results are shown. Much has been learned about the specificity of PTR‐MS from inter‐comparison studies as well the coupling of PTR‐MS with a gas chromatographic interface. The literature on this …