PTR-QMS 500 by Ionicon Analytik

"Proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) is a tool for real-time analysis of gas-phase volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is well-suited to measuring VOCs directly in air, without the need for prior sample workup or enrichment, and can be applied in fields ranging from atmospheric chemistry, to food volatiles analysis, to breath gas analysis. The instrument is an ideal tool for precise on-line detection of VOCs. It is robust and operates stably over extended periods. One disadvantage of the technique is that it cannot resolve isobaric or isomeric species, and often compounds (or their fragments) will create overlapping signals at a single m/z. This can make compound identification difficult in complex gas matrices, typically requiring other techniques (such as GC-MS) to aid identification. I would recommend this instrument to anybody with a need to measure fast processes (such as flavour release from food), with a caveat that some experience is needed for data evaluation."