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Process analysis using ion mobility spectrometry

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Abstract

Ion mobility spectrometry, originally used to detect chemical warfare agents, explosives and illegal drugs, is now frequently applied in the field of process analytics. The method combines both high sensitivity (detection limits down to the ng to pg per liter and ppbv/pptv ranges) and relatively low technical expenditure with a high-speed data acquisition. In this paper, the working principles of IMS are summarized with respect to the advantages and disadvantages of the technique. Different ionization techniques, sample introduction methods and preseparation methods are considered. Proven applications of different types of ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) used at ISAS will be discussed in detail: monitoring of gas insulated substations, contamination in water, odoration of natural gas, human breath composition and metabolites of bacteria. The example applications discussed relate to purity (gas insulated substations), ecology (contamination of water resources), plants and person safety (odoration of natural gas), food quality control (molds and bacteria) and human health (breath analysis).

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Acknowledgements

Major contributions to common experimental and laboratory work were made by Dr. Li Fang, Peter Pilzecker, Dr. Vera Ruzsanyi, Dr. Stefanie Sielemann, Dr. Gudrun Walendzik, Dr. Wolfgang Vautz and should be mentioned in gratitude. Some of the results discussed above were published partly in the PhD thesis of Dr. Gudrun Walendzik (water contamination) and Dr. Vera Ruzsanyi (breath analysis and metabolites of bacteria), and so they deserve hearty thanks. The co-operation and common experimental work done with G.A.S. Gesellschaft für analytische Sensorsysteme mbH, Dortmund, Germany, in the fields of applications of IMS to gas insulated substations and supervision of the odoration level of natural gas are gratefully acknowledged. Lucia Seifert, Stefanie Güssgen and the mechanical department of the ISAS headed by Hans–Georg Krebs made essential contributions to the results obtained. The co-operation, helpful discussions and support obtained at the Hemer lung hospital, especially from Dr. Lutz Freitag, Dr. Michael Westphal and Dr. Patrick Litterst, should also be mentioned. Additionally, detailed discussions on fundamental questions and application problems with Prof. Dr. Gary Eiceman, New Mexico State University, are gratefully acknowledged. The financial support of the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung and the Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen and the G.A.S. Gesellschaft für analytische Sensorsysteme mbH, Dortmund, is also gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Metabolomics, ISAS—Institute for Analytical Sciences, Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Straße 11, 44139, Dortmund, Germany

    J. I. Baumbach

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Baumbach, J.I. Process analysis using ion mobility spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 384, 1059–1070 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-005-3397-8

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