Enabling point-of-need chemical detection by miniaturizing ion-trap mass spectrometry

Abstract

There exists a wide-ranging need to provide both qualitative and quantitative chemical information in near-real time outside of the laboratory environment. In response to this need, efforts in recent years have focused on the transition of laboratory-based instruments for chemical analysis into field-portable forms. Of the many techniques for chemical analysis, mass spectrometry has been an active area for miniaturization efforts due to the quality of chemical information the technique can provide and its ability to operate either stand-alone or coupled with additional analytical techniques. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of what we term ‘point-of-need’ chemical measurements and summarize the various means by which they can be generated. We then transition to focus exclusively on the application of mass spectrometry and specifically on the miniaturization of ion-trap mass analyzers to enable this class of measurements. Examples are provided that demonstrate how this technology has been developed and used within the point-of-need application space.