Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLOCK II CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL MASS SPECTROMETER... 

The Block II chemical biological mass spectrometer (CBMS II) is the most recent version in an evolution of fieldable mass spectrometer systems designed for military detection and identification of chemical and biological warfare agents (CWA and BWA, respectively). It builds on the experience and performance of previous versions and employs the latest advances in the components that comprise the system. Two of these predecessors in particular have made important contributions to this development, the mobile mass spectrometer (MM-1) and the Block I chemical biological mass spectrometer (CBMS I). 

Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer—Block I (CBMS I)... 

Griest, W. H. Wise, M. B. Hart, K. I Lammert, S. A. Thompson, C. V. Vass, A. A. Biological agent detection and identification by the Block II chemical biological mass spectrometer. Field Anal. Chem. Technol. 2001, 5,177-184. 

CBMS The chemical biological mass spectrometer (CBMS) uses infrared pyrolyzer followed by tandem mass spectrometry/ The CBMS was originally intended for the next-generation BIDS. It is being evaluated as a joint chemical/ biological agent water monitor. 

Luo, S. Andersen, D. Mohr, A. J. Abbreviated Test Report (Part II) for the Chem-ical/Biological Mass Spectrometer (CBMS) Block II Chemical Test. DPG Document No. WDTC-TR-03-081, West Desert Test Center, US Army Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, UT, 2003. 

Mass spectrometry (MS) is highly selective. The ability to further perform tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis when a compound is detected to confirm the detection virtually eliminates false positive and negative alarms. But MS/MS analysis must be completely automated for the average GI to be able to perform it. A clever hand-held chemical and biological mass spectrometer has been developed that weighs only 4.3 pounds. The problem with the unit is production of the necessary vacuum, which requires 35 amps at 24 volts. Thus, battery-operated portable mass spectrometry is not yet available. 

Mass spectrometry (MS) has traditionally played a major role in both the chemical and geological subdisciplines of oceanographic research, but more recently has been introduced into the field of biological oceanography. It has also been used to a limited extent in physical oceanography, primarily for carbon dating and ocean circulation experiments that use 14C tracers. The advent of in situ mass spectrometers... 

The intrinsic variable expressed as units of radioactivity (in becquerels or, more traditionally, curies) per mole of a substance. One Bq corresponds to 1 disintegration per second (dps) and one Ci to 3.70 x 10 ° Bq. This parameter is especially useful in quantifying the amount of substance in biological samples. For example, if SAs is the standard specific radioactivity (say, x dps/y mol) of a standard, and if SAg is the experimental specific activity (say, x dps/(y + z) mol), then the content z in a sample can be determined from the expression (SAs/ SAe) = (y + z)/y or z = y ([SAj/SAg] - 1). This intrinsic variable can also be expressed as the gram-atom excess of a stable isotope per mole of a substance. The numerator is typically determined using a ratio mass spectrometer, and the denominator can be estimated by chemical and/or spectroscopic techniques. 

Biological and chemical welfare constitutes a hidden menace since the first world war. Monitoring of these agents is now made possible by sensitive, soft-ionization portable mass spectrometers. 

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