A History of Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)

The combination of gas chromatography with mass spectrometry originally required the use of molecular separators to interface the two instruments to transfer more of the analyte from the chromatographic eluate into the mass spectrometer ion source. The various molecular separators used for this purpose are described. With the development of chromatographic columns operating at significantly lower mass flow rates, such interface devices are no longer needed.