Ion mobility spectrometry: history, characteristics and applications

Abstract

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is an analytical technique that separates ions in the gas phase. Ions are separated at atmospheric pressure under the influence of an electric field, according to their size and shape. IMS is the best choice for detection of narcotics, chemical and biological warfare agents and explosives in airports and customs. IMS can detect almost anything that can be ionized and has been applied to the analysis from the lightest elements such as helium to the most complex mixtures such as proteomes, metabolomes and complete organisms such as bacteria, chiral separations, and structure determination. Although since 2000 there have been approximately fifty reviews of IMS, this review is probably the only general valuation of this technique since then.

Keywords

• Ion mobility spectrometry
• As-phase ions
• Reduced mobility
• Ion sources