ABSTRACT
The efcient transfer of an analyte from its original condition to the ionization region of an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) is the topic of this chapter. Successful detection and identication of an analyte by IMS depend on many steps but none more important than those by which a sample is introduced into an instrument. IMS instruments are used for the detection and identication of analytes found in air, water, biological §uids and tissues, industrial solvents and on surfaces. Because ion mobility spectrometry is such a universal analytical instrument, sample introduction methods are diverse and depend on the type of sample analyzed. Atmospheric pressure operation makes IMS suitable for interfacing with several sample introduction systems as a detector as well as a selective lter for mass spectrometric techniques.
