New directions and applications of membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS)

我们的研究计划集中在开发和应用在线分析技术，以直接和持续地监测环境和人类健康的关键决定因素。这项研究的目标是提供可直接耦合到灵敏和选择性检测系统(如质谱仪)的直接采样平台，以提供实时、高精度的测量。我们的研究计划有两个主题领域：1)膜引入质谱仪(MIMS)仪器的新方向；2)实时分析数据的新应用。膜引入质谱仪使用半透膜预浓缩分析物，同时排除大量样品基质，无需样品制备即可进行直接在线分析。本研究提供的“更快、更好、更便宜”的分析方法可直接应用于环境化学、人体暴露和材料性质的研究。例如，能够实时监测环境系统中的痕量污染物(如室内/室外空气质量、饮用水消毒副产品)，对于了解健康风险并在问题发生时迅速缓解问题至关重要。复杂样品中显著更快的化学鉴定和定量也直接应用于应急方案、质量控制和临床诊断。因此，我们的研究项目对环境质量和人类健康具有直接意义。

Our research program is centred on the development and application of on-line analytical techniques for the direct and continuous monitoring of key determinants of environmental and human health. The goal of this research is to provide direct sampling platforms that can be directly coupled to sensitive and selective detection systems, such as mass spectrometry, to provide real-time, high precision measurements. Our research program has two thematic areas broadly characterized as 1) new directions in membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) instrumentation and 2) new applications of real-time analytical data. Membrane introduction mass spectrometry uses a semi-permeable membrane to pre-concentrate analytes while rejecting the bulk of the sample matrix allowing direct, on-line analysis without sample preparation. The 'faster, better, cheaper' analytical methods enabled by this research can be directly applied to the study of environmental chemistry, human exposure and material properties. For example, the ability to monitor trace contaminants in real-time in environmental systems (e.g. indoor/outdoor air quality, drinking water disinfection by-products) is of paramount importance in understanding health risks and rapidly mitigating problems when they occur. Substantially faster chemical identification and quantification in complex samples also has direct application in emergency response scenarios, quality control and clinical diagnosis. Consequently, our research program has direct significance for environmental quality and human health.