Uses of Portable Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometers

Abstract

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) technology, whether in a laboratory or in the field allows scientists to identify and quantitate volatile and semi-volatile chemical compounds at low levels. It was not until the 1990s, well after the birth of GCMS in the 1950’s, that portable GCMS technology became possible. GCMS miniaturization along with a need for scientists to test samples outside of the laboratory drove the development of portable GCMS systems. Currently, scientists in the environmental, emergency response, government, military sectors, and private manufacturing industries use portable GCMS technology to monitor and quantitate various chemicals such as low levels of hazardous compound exposure in the environment. Successful implementation of portable GCMS also required that many sample preparatory techniques used in the laboratory must be modified for application in the field to maintain simplicity and robustness of the analysis of complex matrices like soil or water. This chapter will describe portable GCMS technology along with the current uses and sample preparatory techniques utilized.