Preprint
Article

Hybrid Analytical Platform Based on Field-Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry, Infrared Sensing, and Luminescence-Based Oxygen Sensing for Exhaled Breath Analysis

This version is not peer-reviewed.

Submitted:

14 May 2019

Posted:

15 May 2019

You are already at the latest version

A peer-reviewed article of this preprint also exists.

Abstract
The reliable online analysis of volatile compounds in exhaled breath remains a challenge as a plethora of molecules occur in different concentration ranges (i.e. ppt to %), and need to be detected against an extremely complex background matrix. While this complexity is commonly addressed by hyphenating a specific analytical technique with appropriate preconcentration and/or preseparation strategies prior to detection, we herein propose the combination of three analytical tools based on truly orthogonal measurement principles as an alternative solution: field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy-based sensors utilizing substrate-integrated hollow waveguides (iHWG), and luminescence sensing (LS). These three tools have been integrated into a single compact analytical platform suitable for online exhaled breath analysis. The analytical performance of this prototype system was tested via artificial breath samples containing nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and acetone as a model volatile organic compound (VOC) commonly present and detected in breath. Functionality of the combined system was demonstrated by detecting these analytes in their respectively breath-relevant concentration range and mutually independent of each other generating orthogonal yet correlated analytical signals. Finally, adaptation of the system towards the analysis of real breath samples during future studies is discussed.
Keywords: 
exhaled breath analysis; field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry; FAIMS; Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; FTIR; luminescence sensing; infrared sensors; hyphenated techniques; hybrid techniques; acetone; carbon dioxide; oxygen
Subject: 
Chemistry and Materials Science  -   Analytical Chemistry
Copyright: This open access article is published under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license, which permit the free download, distribution, and reuse, provided that the author and preprint are cited in any reuse.

Downloads

295

Views

434

Comments

0

Subscription

Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.

Email

Prerpints.org logo

Preprints.org is a free preprint server supported by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.

Subscribe

© 2025 MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) unless otherwise stated