Coupling of planar chromatography to mass spectrometry

Coupling of planar chromatography to mass spectrometry (MS) and especially ambient MS is a relatively new field of great interest. The direct sample access at ambient conditions and the feasibility to obtain mass spectra free of contamination within a minute or even within seconds greatly contributes to the progress of planar chromatography. Targeted recording of mass spectra on zones of interest is performed after evaluation of the chromatogram, thus providing high efficiency. Reported approaches for coupling are divided into elution-based and desorption-based techniques. Devices of both categories are commercially available. As a consequence of increasing importance, a rethink of the terminology of liquid chromatography with MS has to be considered. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.