Analysis of flame structure by molecular-beam mass spectrometry using electron-impact and synchrotron-photon ionization

Abstract

Molecular-beam mass spectrometry (MBMS) has proven to be a powerful tool for the general analysis of flame structure, providing concentrations of radical and stable species for low-pressure flat flames since the work of Homann and Wagner in the 1960's. In this paper, we will describe complementary measurements using electron-impact ionization with a high-mass-resolution quadrupole mass spectrometer and vacuum-ultraviolet photoionization in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Isomers are resolved that have not been separately detectable before in MBMS studies of flames, including C 3H 2, C 3H 4, C 4H 3, C 4H 4, C 4H 5, C 6H 6, and C 2H 4O. The qualitative and quantitative results of MBMS have led to advances in modeling and applying flame chemistry. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006.