Abstract
Atmospheric composition data has provided researchers with important information on ozone depletion, trends in greenhouse gas concentrations, and temporal/regional variations in air quality.  As in many scientific fields, further advances will be facilitated by the development of smaller, faster, and ever more sensitive instrumentation.  Our group’s research has focused on developing suitable sample introduction systems coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer for monitoring trace levels of various species in air. These are collectively referred to as Direct Sampling Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry (DSITMS) techniques.  DSITMS uses neither preconcentration nor chromatography steps are employed; the sample is introduced into the ion trap and MS/MS scan modes are used for identification and quantitation.  To date, we have evaluated five different sample introduction techniques.  A leak-type inlet provides low ppb detection limits and is perhaps the easiest to use.  A valve-based inlet adds an additional twist in that the ion trap is operated using air instead of helium as a buffer gas with this inlet. A membrane inlet is potentially more sensitive but suffers from long response and recovery times.  A glow discharge inlet can be used to generate positive or negative ions but requires further design improvements.  Lastly and most recently, we interfaced a standard proton transfer reaction (PTR) ion source/drift tube assembly to an ion trap to create the first functional PTR-ITMS instrument.  This instrument is a variation on a commercial PTR-MS instrument that provides limits of detection (LODs) in the low part-per-trillion range.  This presentation will review basic atmospheric chemistry and the need for very low LODs, detail various DSITMS sample introduction systems, and highlight their use for monitoring automobile emissions, plant emissions, and air contaminants onboard Mir space station.

Background
Pete Palmer received his B.S. in Chemistry in 1983 from Canisius College, a small undergraduate college in Buffalo, NY.  He went on to receive his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry in 1988 from Michigan State University under the guidance of Chris Enke, where his thesis research involved the development of algorithms for interpreting tandem mass spectrometry data for structure elucidation.  From there, he traveled to Cincinnati, OH, where he worked as a research scientist in the Corporate Research Division for Proctor & Gamble Co, developing laboratory robotics systems.  He quickly tired of the Ohio lifestyle, and moved out to California in 1989 where he worked for NASA Ames Research Center applying ion trap mass spectrometry to life support, ecosystems, and atmospheric monitoring applications.

Pete joined the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at San Francisco State University in 1994.  He teaches analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, and mass spectrometry classes.  His research interests focus on the testing and deployment of ion trap technology to support a number of environmental monitoring applications.  These include developing new techniques to monitor air quality on Mir space station, determining seasonal and regional variations in volatile organic compound concentrations, and measuring pesticides that have been dosed onto Native American artifacts and museum objects.

In his leisure time, Pete enjoys hiking, cycling, and roller hockey. He is an avid Buffalo Bills fan, loves spicy foods, cooks a mean chili, and makes the best chicken wings west of NY.

Meeting details

Date:	Tuesday	May 20, 2003
Time:	6:00 pm	Social hour, registration (no-host cocktails)
	7:00 pm	Dinner
	8:00 pm	Lecture
Dinner:	Choice of:	Roast Sirloin of Beef served au jus
		Bay Shrimp & Scallop Fettuccine in an Alfredo Garlic Sauce
		Vegetarian Platter
	includes	(various side dishes & dessert)
Cost:	$25.00	BAMS members.  Reservations required by noon on Friday May 16, 2003
	$35.00	Non-members.  Reservations required by noon on Friday May 16, 2003
	$15.00	Students only.  Reservations required by noon on Friday May 16, 2003

Note: 2003 dues need to be paid to obtain member price.  Dues ($20) may be paid while registering for dinner.

Maps & directions
Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto
1919 4th St
Berkeley, CA 94710
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The San Francisco Bay Area Mass Spectrometry discussion group was formed in 1980 to provide a regular gathering for people interested in mass spectrometry and allied topics. BAMS currently has a membership of about 280 individual and 20 corporate members, and meets 8-10 times per year for a midweek dinner and lecture.  Meetings attract between 30 and 90 people, and are held at a restaurant or hotel in the bay area convenient for our speaker.  We usually convene at 6:00 pm for cocktails, dinner at 7:00 pm, and lecture at 8:15 pm.

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Last update: 5/7/2003