Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Data processing in on-line laser mass spectrometry of inorganic, organic, or biological airborne particles

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A general solution for data processing of large numbers of micrometer- or submicrometer-particle mass spectra in aerosol analysis is described. The method is based on immediate evaluation of bipolar laser desorption ionization mass spectra acquired in an on-line (impact-free) time-of-flight instrument. The goal of the procedure is a characterization of the particle population under investigation in terms of chemical composition of particle classes, particle distributions, size distributions, and time courses, rather than an investigation of each individual particle. After automatic peak analysis of each newly acquired bipolar mass spectrum, the mass spectral information is statistically evaluated by a fuzzy clustering algorithm, providing for an immediate attribution of the particle to predefined particle classes. The particle distributions over these classes can be monitored as a function of time and particle size range. Definition of the particle classes as used for on-line evaluation is performed in an earlier step, either by manual approach, or by selection from a particle class database, or, as in most cases, by fuzzy clustering of a set of particle mass spectra from the population (the aerosol) under investigation. Definition of the particle classes is depending only on the distinguishability of the spectra patterns of different particles. It is not necessary for the clustering approach to fully “understand” the mass spectra. The range of possible applications of the method is therefore very broad. Particles dominated by inorganic components, as typically observed in aerosol chemistry for example, can be investigated the same way as organic particles (e.g., from smoke or automobile exhaust) or even biological particles such as bacteria, yeast, or pollen. The data processing method has been successfully applied in several fields of stationary applications and will be employed in mobile instruments for large scale field studies in atmospheric chemistry, engine combustion research, and the characterization of house dust.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Johnston, M. V.; Wexler, A. S. Anal. Chem. 1995, 67, 721A-726A.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Peter, T. Science 1996, 273, 1352–1353.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Murphy, D. M.; Thomson, D. S. J. Geophys. Res. 1997, 102, 6325–6368.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Noble, C. A.; Prather, K. A. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1996, 30, 2667–2680.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Liu, D.-Y.; Rutherford, D.; Kinsey, M.; Prather, K. A. Anal. Chem. 1997, 69, 1808–1814.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Reents, W. D., Jr.; Downey, S. W.; Emerson, A. B.; Mujsce, A. M.; Muller, A. J.; Siconolfi, D. J.; Sinclair, J. D.; Swanson, A. G. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 1995, 23, 263–270.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Weiss, M.; Verheijen, P. J. T.; Marijnissen, J. C. M.; Scarlett, B. J. Aerosol Sci. 1997, 28, 159–171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. McKeown, P. J.; Johnston, M. V.; Murphy, D. M. Anal. Chem. 1991, 63, 2069–2073.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hinz, K.-P.; Kaufmann, R.; Spengler, B. Aerosol Sci. Technol. 1996, 24, 233–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Silva, P. J.; Prather, K. A. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1997, 31, 3074–3080.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hinz, K.-P.; Kaufmann, R.; Vogt, R.; Greweling, M.; Spengler, B. Proceedings of the 45th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics; Palm Springs, CA, 1997, p 201.

  12. Hinz, K.-P.; Greweling, M.; Iglseder, H.; Trimborn, A.; Spengler, B. J. Aerosol Sci. 1998, 29, S1253-S1254, Suppl. 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Neubauer, K. R.; Sum, S. T.; Johnston, M. V. J. Geophys. Res. 1996, 101, 18701–18707.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mansoori, B. A.; Johnston, M. V.; Wexler, A. S. Anal. Chem. 1996, 68, 3595–3601.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kaufmann, R.; Wieser, P.; Wurster, R. Scanning Electron Microscopy; SEM Inc.: AMF O’Hare, Chicago, 1980, 607–622.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Spengler, B.; Hinz, K.-P.; Kaufmann, R.; Greweling, M.; Trimborn, A.; Drews, F. In Advances in Mass Spectrometry; Karjalainen, E. J.; Hesso, A. E.; Jalonen, J. E.; Karjalainen, U. P., Eds.; Elsevier Science: Amsterdam, 1998, 14, pp 473–496.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Xhoffer, C.; Bernard, P.; Van Grieken, R.; Van der Auwera, L. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1991, 25, 1470–1478.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Xhoffer, C.; Wouters, L.; Van Grieken, R. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1992, 26, 2151–2162.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Treiger, B.; Bondarenko, I.; Van Malderen, H.; Van Grieken, R. Analytica Chim. Acta 1995, 317, 33–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bondarenko, I.; Van Malderen, H.; Treiger, B.; Van Espen, P.; Van Grieken, R. Chemom. Intell. Lab. Syst. 1994, 22, 87–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Bondarenko, I.; Treiger, B.; Van Grieken, R.; Van Espen, P. Spectrochim. Acta Part B 1996, 51, 441–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lindner, B.; Seydel, U. Microbeam Analysis; Russel, P. E. , Ed.; San Francisco, 1989; pp 286–292.

  23. Ro, C. U.; Linton, R. W. Microbeam Anal 1992, 1, 75–87.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Windham, M. P. IEEE Trans. PAMI 1982, 4, 357–363.

    Google Scholar 

  25. O’Brien, D. In Aerosol Measurement; Willeke, K.; Baron, P. A., Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York, 1993, Chap 23.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Bezdek, J. C.; Ehrlich, R.; Full, W. Comput. Geosci. 1984, 10, 191–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Höppner, F.; Klawonn, F.; Kruse, R. Fuzzy-Clusteranalyse; Vieweg Verlag: Braunschweig, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kaufman, L.; Rousseeuw, P. J. Finding Goups in Data; Wiley: New York, 1990.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. Windham, M. P. Fuzzy Sets and Systems 1981, 5, 177–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hinz, K.-P.; Kaufmann, R.; Spengler, B. J. Aerosol Sci. 1996, 27 Suppl. 1, S171-S172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Friedlander, S. K. Smoke, Dust and Haze; Wiley: New York, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Gieray, R.; Wieser, P.; Engelhardt, T.; Swietlicki, E.; Hanson, H.-C.; Mentes, B.; Orsini, D.; Martinsson, B.; Svenningsson, B.; Noone, K. J.; Heintzenberg, J. Atmos. Environ. 1997, 31, 2491–2502.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gard, E. E.; Kleeman, M. J.; Gross, D. S.; Hughes, L. S.; Allen, J. O.; Morrical, B. D.; Fergenson, D. P.; Dienes, T.; Gälli, M. E.; Johnson, R. J.; Cass, G. R.; Prather, K. A. Science 1998, 279, 1184–1187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Andreae, M. O. Science 1983, 220, 1148–1151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Artaxo, P.; Gerab, F.; Yamasoe, M. A.; Martins, J. V. J. Geophys. Res. 1994, 99, 22857–22868.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Busch, B.; Ferron, E.; Karg, E.; Silberg, A.; Heyder, J. J. Aerosol Sci. 1995, 26, Suppl. 1, S435-S436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. McMurry, P. H.; Litchy, M.; Huang, P.-F.; Cai, X.; Turpin, B. J.; Dick, W. D.; Hanson, A. Atmos. Environ. 1996, 30, 101–108.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Winkler, P. VDI-Ber 1983, 500, 141–147.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Jaenicke, R. Promet 1986, 16, 13–18.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Heintzenberg, J. Tellus 1989, 41B, 149–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Laser Medicine, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany

    M. Greweling

  2. INBITEC GmbH, Strausberg, Germany

    F. Drews

  3. Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany

    K. -P. Hinz & B. Spengler

  4. Biologisch-Medizinisches Forschungszentrum, University of Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany

    B. Spengler

Authors
  1. K. -P. Hinz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Greweling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Drews
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Spengler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Spengler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hinz, K.P., Greweling, M., Drews, F. et al. Data processing in on-line laser mass spectrometry of inorganic, organic, or biological airborne particles. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 10, 648–660 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044-0305(99)00028-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044-0305(99)00028-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation