The Conversion of Oxygen in Compounds to Carbon Monoxide for Mass-Spectrometric Analysis

Abstract

A method by which oxygen in many organic compounds and some inorganic compounds can be converted to carbon monoxide for mass-spectrometric analysis is described. The compound is decomposed in the vapour state in the presence of excess bromine by contact with a clean or a carbon-coated platinum wire at a bright red heat. The bromine acts as a scavanger and removes hydrogen and hydrocarbons. Carbon monoxide is obtained quantitatively and may be isolated in a pure state, except when the compound contains nitrogen, by freezing out the other decomposition products using liquid air. Memory and dilution effects are very small.