Calibration reference materials for selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry

Enhancing quality and safety with real-time gas analysis 

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is a portable chemical ionisation technology designed to measure gases with high temporal resolution, detecting concentrations as low as pmol mol-1. It ionises compounds with proton affinities higher than water, avoiding interference from major air components and eliminating the need for sample pretreatment. It is also compatible with both positive and negative ion modes, as well as with flammable gases.  

The SIFT-MS process incorporates a quadrupole mass filter to enable real-time analyte measurements. This capability has made SIFT-MS invaluable in applications requiring immediate measurements:  

• Manufacturing – for cleanroom air monitoring and quality control  

• Medical diagnostics – for non-invasive breath analysis to assess metabolic health and disease  

• Air quality monitoring – for analysing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial and natural sources  

• Foods and flavours – for assessing aroma profiles in product development and quality improvement  

Trusted calibration gas reference materials for superior analytical reliability

Regular calibration with traceable primary reference materials (PRMs) is crucial for reliable and reproducible SIFT-MS measurements.​1​ However, a lack of high-quality, traceable calibration gas mixtures on the market currently poses challenges for cross-comparability in studies and monitoring projects, highlighting the need for consistent, stable gas reference materials for SIFT-MS.  

NPL is the highest point of traceability and addresses this gap by offering a unique selection of PRMs specifically designed for SIFT-MS applications, including an eight-component gas reference material with an impressive five-year stability. These cost-effective standards support accurate, long-term performance across a wide range of sectors, from environmental monitoring to occupational health and safety, establishing global benchmarks and instilling confidence in your SIFT-MS calibration and results. The composition of this standard includes the following compounds at nominally 2 μmol mol-1 within a nitrogen balance gas. The uncertainties for each compound are in the range of 3-5 per cent. 

Note: Commonly used names are shown here but the preferred IUPAC names where appropriate are: 2-methyl propane (isobutane), 1,2,3,4,5-Pentafluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (octafluorotoluene) and 1,4-Xylene (p-xylene).

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