An atmospheric pressure static reactor – ion trap mass spectrometer for studying gas-phase reactions

The design and operation of an atmospheric pressure static reactor coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer is described. The reactor is designed for studying gas-phase reactions that are important in atmospheric chemistry. The system provides a simple and robust method for identifying the products of gas-phase reactions. Results for the reaction of O 3 with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene (tetramethylethylene, TME) are demonstrated as a proof of the principle for the performance of the static reactor. All of the previously reported major primary products of the reaction were observed, and the yields of two compounds (acetone and hydroxyacetone) were quantified, in excellent agreement with previous work. Several minor species were also observed, demonstrating the potential for this method to investigate the product channels for less well-studied atmospherically relevant reactions.