Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Quantitative Measurement Of Pyrolysis And Combustion Species Concentration By Molecular-Beam-Sampling-Mass-Spectrometry, Xian Zhong

Theses

A molecular-beam-sampling apparatus utilizing both a time-of-flight mass spectrometer with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization and a quadrupole mass spectrometer with electron impact ionization is described. These systems are used to analyze reactants and products, as well as reactive intermediates, from flow tube experiments at reduced pressures and elevated temperatures. It is shown that the quadrupole signal sensitivity can be predicted using literature cross sections which are based upon the atom hybridization within the various molecules. Measurements of the VUV photoionization sensitivity for stable species led to development of a group additivity approach to predict cross sections. This approach was extended …