Measurement of volatile organic compounds in vehicle exhaust using single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

For the real-time measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in vehicle exhaust, we employed a vacuum ultraviolet single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (VUV-SPI-TOFMS). Exhaust measurements from gasoline and diesel engine vehicles were performed using a chassis dynamometer. Hydrocarbons such as alkylbenzenes, alkenes, alkanes, and dienes were the major organic compounds present in both gasoline and diesel engine exhaust. The concentrations of organic compounds in gasoline exhaust were higher under running conditions than during idling. The VOC concentrations in diesel exhaust were higher during idling than during running conditions. The VUV-SPI-TOFMS measured composition and emission profiles of many hydrocarbons, including aliphatics and aromatics, in vehicle exhaust simultaneously with real time response.