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Detection of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) by ion-mobility spectrometry

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Abstract

Traces of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) in air can indicate the presence of growth of moulds in the indoor environment. Ion-mobility spectrometry is a very promising method for detection of these MVOCs, because of its high sensitivity. For development of an in-situ method for detection of MVOCs, a portable ion-mobility spectrometer (IMS) was used and test gases of 14 MVOCs and their respective mixtures were investigated. IMS spectra were recorded as a function of concentration of MVOCs in air. Drift time and mobility of reactant ions formed in positive polarity mode were determined and correlated with the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of the MVOCs investigated. The estimated detection limit has a specific value for each MVOC and is in the range 3 to 96 μg m−3 (1 to 52 ppbV). Indoor trials show that IMS can indicate hidden mould growth.

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Acknowledgement

We are grateful to AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen—project no. KF 0133712DA6) for financial support. We would also like to thank Christel Teuber, Katrin Oleszak, and Simon Bockisch for technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, 12200, Berlin, Germany

    Carlo Tiebe & Thomas Hübert

  2. I.U.T. Institute for Environmental Technologies GmbH, 12489, Berlin, Germany

    Hans Miessner & Bernhard Koch

Authors
  1. Carlo Tiebe
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  2. Hans Miessner
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  3. Bernhard Koch
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  4. Thomas Hübert
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Correspondence to Thomas Hübert.

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Tiebe, C., Miessner, H., Koch, B. et al. Detection of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) by ion-mobility spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 395, 2313–2323 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3147-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3147-4

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