Page 414 - Tandem Techniques
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Permeable Membrane Interface
Before closing this chapter on interfaces for LC/MS tandem instruments, the possibilities of the
permeable membrane as a MS inlet system should be mentioned. The membrane interface is strictly
only suitable for relatively volatile materials, which would usually be separated by gas chromatography.
However, as some environmental samples are contained in aqueous matrixes (e.g. the aromatic
hydrocarbons in water, or certain pesticides in soil extracts etc.) the present stage of the interface
development will be briefly considered for possible future use in LC/MS equipment. One of the more
recent reports on the design and use of membrane inlet systems was that of Maden and Hayward, [43],
who investigated a wide range of different materials for permeability and selectivity.
Figure 9.56
The Membrane Interface for the Mass Spectrometer
