Detection of security relevant substances within the cooperative project SAFE XUV

The objective of this project funded by the German BMBF was to show that security relevant substances can be detected in complex matrices at low concentrations using single photon ionization ion trap mass spectrometry (SPI-ITMS). The advantage of such a soft ionization technique is a reduction of unwanted fragment ions in mass spectra allowing identification of signals from complex matrices and enabling MS/MS capability. The MS/MS studies permit low false-positive and false-negative rates. Additionally, the accumulation of the ions in the ion trap decreases the detection limit. To obtain low detection limits the ionization potentials (IPs) of the relevant substances have to be below the IPs…