The recent development of real-time ionization technology, especially the emergence of micro mass spectrometers (MMS), has made the ionization process simpler and more efficient. The original intention of the MMS design was to reduce the capacity of the mass spectrometer, which is not only easy to carry, but can also be used for various on-site analyses, such as doctors' bedside diagnosis, firefighters' inspections at fire scenes, or food safety inspectors' inspections in warehouses. Testing etc.
Traditional mass spectrometers usually require complex sample preparation procedures, which not only wastes time but also requires highly skilled professionals to operate. The most significant advantage of the emergence of instant ionization technology is that samples no longer need to be processed in advance and only need to be analyzed on site.
This technology makes on-site operations simpler, greatly reducing the need for technical personnel, thus saving time and costs.
Instant ionization techniques that do not require sample preparation mainly include environmental ionization methods, such as low-temperature plasma, paper spray, and extraction spray. These methods generate ions in open air without requiring sample transfer to a halal environment or complex sample processing in a specialized laboratory.
The core of this technology is to achieve low background noise and avoid molecular collisions through an efficient vacuum system.
The basic components of MMS are similar to traditional laboratory mass spectrometers, including sample inlet, ion source, mass analyzer, detector, vacuum system, instrument control and data acquisition system. Reducing the size of the mass analyzer will significantly promote the reduction of other components, because the mass analyzer plays a decisive role in the pressure of mass spectrometry analysis.
The micro mass analyzer can maintain high sensitivity and resolution when performing multi-stage mass spectrometry analysis, which is especially important for the analysis of mixtures.
MMS technology has a bright future, and many research teams are exploring its applications in various fields. From safety detection, environmental monitoring, to medical diagnosis, different applications will further expand the prospects of instant ionization technology.
Current research shows that integrating miniature mass spectrometers into broader automated systems is an important direction for future technological progress.
With the development of this technology, instant ionization technology that does not require sample preparation will bring revolutionary changes to mass spectrometry analysis, enabling faster and easier on-site analysis. This is not only a technological advancement, but also an unprecedented process in scientific research and application. So will we see a wider range of real-time analysis technology in the future?