Mass spectrometry and mass-selective detection in chromatography

An overview of chromatography–mass spectrometry coupling is presented here, focussing mainly on possibilities offered by this detection technique. GC–MS and HPLC–MS are the two most often used variants, which have quite different characteristics. Various mass-spectrometric possibilities are briefly discussed: ionization techniques, determination of elemental formulas, structural information and the question of sensitivity and selectivity. Options for mass-spectrometric instrumentation and applications of tandem mass spectrometry are also mentioned.