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Characteristics of select glass tube preconcentrators used with an ion mobility spectrometer
Experiments were run using a PC-100 ion mobility spectrometer and TNT explosive vapor source to evaluate the adsorb-desorb characteristics of select 6.2 mm O.D. by 4.0 mm I.D. by 76.2 mm long glass preconcentrator tubes. This study was done to aid in the continuing search for an efficient preconcentrating device to be used with explosive vapor detecting instruments. These tubes were tested at various sampling rates ranging from 60 to 510 ml/min and the samples were thermally desorbed to provide the maximum output signal. Data showed the tubes with the greatest internal surface area for the explosive molecules to stick to produced the best desorption results, namely the glass wool packed tubes. Correlation between tube type and sampling flows with respect to maximum output signal proved to be significant, along with the individual tube desorption profiles. 23 figs.