MEMBRANE INTRODUCTION MASS-SPECTROMETRY - AN OLD METHOD THAT IS GAINING NEW INTEREST THROUGH RECENT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

Novel approaches to instrument design revitalized the technique of membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) in the 1980's. The development of the direct insertion membrane probe eliminated virtually all of the problems associated with earlier system designs. Combination of the direct insertion probe with ion trap mass spectrometers spawned the production of the first commercially available MIMS system capable of detecting organic compounds in water at the low part per trillion level with reproducibility exceeding that obtainable using standard GC techniques. Later development of two stage MIMS devices further enhanced the utility of MIMS by allowing the direct analysis of polar organics in aqueous as well as organic matrices. Current work in the production of 'affinity' membranes designed for specific MIMS applications promises to further expand the utility of this revitalized analysis technique.