ABSTRACT
A trend in measurements for environmental sciences beginning in the 1980s was to locate analyzers on-site and as close as possible to the test location. There is no need with on-site instruments to obtain and transport samples to a central laboratory, resulting in fast results, reduced costs, and possibly improved accuracy and precision. This is especially attractive when technology can be transferred from laboratory benches to actual on-site venues (some of which are harsh environments) without compromises in analytical performance. Unfortunately, the demands on weight, power, and size necessitate design compromises when adapting laboratory instruments for portable or transportable uses. Since ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) analyzers emerged from a strong tradition in engineering for the demanding requirements of military and security uses, existing technologies are highly compatible with this philosophic trend toward on-site environmental measurements. The very selection of ion mobility methods by the military arose from considerations of simplicity and reliability available in ambient-pressure-based instruments without liquid reagents or solutions.
