Ion Mobility Spectrometry in Forensic Science

Abstract

Ion mobility spectrometry ( IMS ) is a valuable screening technique for hazardous chemicals in the field. It is prolifically used by law enforcement agencies, emergency response personnel, security agencies, and the military to detect explosives, illicit drugs, toxic industrial chemicals, and chemical warfare agents. IMS has been greatly successful, thanks to its portability, ruggedness, ability to operate at ambient pressures, low power requirements, simplicity, fast analysis times, and excellent sensitivity to target substances. This article outlines the current status of IMS and explores exciting innovations that could bring mobility principles to the laboratory, potentially improving the efficiency and accuracy of chemical analyses. The growth of gas chromatography‐ion mobility spectrometry ( GC–IMS ) and ion mobility‐mass spectrometry ( IM–MS ) could be an avenue for exploration in forensic science analysis. Both techniques improve upon IMS by addressing its weaknesses of poor resolution and susceptibility to mixtures. These are the primary obstacles to the laboratory use of IMS. As IMS continues to serve as a trace chemical monitor in the field, these developments in the coupling of IMS principles with other analytical techniques are giving mobility spectrometry a new purpose in the laboratory.