[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion-mobility_spectrometry]
There are numerous application for IMS and it has the main advantage to work at atmospheric pressure (in constraste with mass spectrometry that requires most of the time 10-3 torr) that would make it compact and affordable.
We see the possibility to make continious monitoring of the bioreactor made by Hackuarium and situated in Cali, Colombia.
Main parts of the IMS :
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Desolvation zone : Insert and ionization of sample. Electrospray ionisation (ESI). Advantage : one can insert the liquid sample and ionize it through the same needle. Limitation : 5kV voltage source, 100uL/min flow rate through the needle.
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Shutter : Let the ions pass on command. Three grid Shutter. Advantage : easy to built and to command.
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Drift zone : Acceleration of ions. Made by multiple electrodes connected to different voltages with the aid of a voltage divider. Limitation : 10kV voltage source.
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Detection : Faraday plate. Transconductance amplifier converts the tiny ion current into a reasonable tension. Limitation : The current-to-tension AOP must be with very low bias current, and low noise (hence expensive).
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Monitoring : A/D converter.
Link to full project already made : [https://github.com/bhclowers/OS-IMS]