Ion Mobility Spectrometry and
Differential Mobility Spectromentry
Collaboration with Eiceman Group Labs
New Mexico State University

The first attempt to use IMS technology
for detecting plastic contaminants in seed cotton was successful
Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory
10 September 1999

Spectra generated by IMS detecting plastic contaminants in the presence of seed cotton.

Three generations of IMS (and DMS) design showing the move to miniaturization and low cost production with chip technology.

New DMS apparatus
by Professor Gary Eiceman, Dr. Boris Tadjikov, Dr. Eugene Krylov and Dr. Erkinjon Nazarov
Constructed to combine gas chromatographic (GC) seperation with miniature differential mobility detection, this instrument is an extremely powerful analytical tool, providing two dimensions of information from one sample. Unlike the GC/mass spectrometer which uses a vacuum, the GC/DMS works at ambient atmospheric pressure. This instrument can readily be adopted for inexpensive portable field analysis.



This is the information available using differential mobility spectrometry in conjunction with a gas chromatograph. The y-axis is eloution time from a gas chromatograph (a function of the size of the molecule) and the x-axis is voltage (a function of the mobility constants under high and low fields). The two dimensional fingerprint illustrating the selectivity of this technology is of the aggregration pheromone released by chile weevils feeding on jalapeno peppers.

Combining selective preconcentration (Solid Phase Micro Extraction) and temporal preseparation (Rapid Gas Chromatography) with differential mobility spectrometry gives scientists at the Southwestern Cotton Ginning Research Laboratory the ability to differentiate more accurately and detect at lower concentrations. Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) control gas circulation, heating and cooling cycles, etc. Electronics by Fermin Alvarado.

Back Home
Last updated 24 March 2005