ABSTRACT
In most types of mass spectrometer, the sorting is accomplished by means of the electrical, magnetic, or translational properties of ions in a beam traveling out of the ion source toward a suitable detector. Many different kinds of mass spectrometers have been designed and used, at one time or another, for various purposes. Mass spectra have different sorts of usefulness, depending on the nature of the problem to be solved. The mass spectra of the products of hydrogenation, ozonolysis, and other reactions often provide essential bits of information. The overwhelming majority of mass spectrometers purchased are of the coupled gas chromatograph/mass spectometer/data system variety. Techniques of desorption ionization Mass spectrometry (MS) include secondary ionization MS, laser desorption, and plasma desorption. Liquid chromatography (LC)/MS systems are being offered on the market, and developmental work continues. The rapid expansion of liquid chromatographic technology, coupled with the continuing developmental work on ion sources, offers encouragement for the future of another such combination (LC/MS).
