Old reliable benchtop GC/MS

摘要

The market for GC/MS remains strong for food and environmental applications. The old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," could be applied to benchtop GC/MS systems. While experts agree that the general performance and functional capabilities have increased since Analytical Cbemistry last reviewed the instruments (1999, 71, 401 A-406 A), they say the changes have not been revolutionary. "There have been improvements over the last five years, but I would say the improvements have generally been incremental. In the benchtop GC/MS area, there hasn't been a shining new instrument that has been developed," says Nicholas Snow of Seton Hall University. "I think that's an indication of the fact that the technology has been well developed," says James Yano of Agilent Technologies. Experts also think GC/MS hasn't seen any major changes recently because instrument companies have focused their attention on techniques such as LC/MS for biomedical and pharmaccutical applications. Nonetheless, the market for GC/MS systems remains stable. Tables 1-4 list selected commcrcially available quadrupole, ion trap, TOF, and magnetic sector benchtop GC/MS instruments. The tables are not meant to be comprehensive; some vendors also offer products not listed here. Experts agree that two changes have occurred in GC/MS instrumentation over the past five years. For one, the general cost per analysis has decreased. Matthew Booth of the University of Florida states, "I think you can get a lot more for your dollars now than [five years ago]. GC/MS instruments with differential pumping and chemical ionization sources used to be an option only for research laboratories. These options are now available for benchtop systems for under