Jochen Franzen

Mobile mass spectrometry; a decade of field applications

Abstract In recent years, mobile mass spectrometry has gained great importance for on-site analytical applications in environmental investigations and emergency analytical determinations. An interesting path has been followed to reach todays state-of-the-art ruggedized mobile and portable instrumentation in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The development of automated sampling systems was also a fundamental support in this transition phase. Fast, routine, and computer-assisted GC-MS analysis on-site usually requires analytical equipment, which should be easy-to-work and hard-to-break, with short down-times. Fast mass spectrometric on-site analyses help protect the population in chemical accidents and help reduce the field investigation times dramatically.