Portable gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer Page: 4 of 18
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unknown chemical. However, until recently, portable GC-MS systems were
not available. Recent efforts to develop portable chemical analysis systems
are exemplified by U.S. Patents No. 4,888,295 issued December 19, 1989 to S.
Zaromb et al. and No. 5,153,433 issued October 6, 1992 to B.D. Andresen et al.
5 Portable or field deployable GC-MS systems, such as the Viking
Spectra Trak, made by Viking Instruments, Reston, VA, are expensive,
costing over $150,000 and weigh approximately 150 pounds, and utilize an
existing commercial mass spectrometer vacuum system which requires dolly
transport. Thus, the prior known portable systems are both expensive and
10 difficult to take to the field because of size and weight thereof. In addition,
the power consumption of the prior known portable systems, such as the
above-referenced Viking Spectra Trak, is between 1,000 to 1,500 watts
depending upon the operational mode.
The recent environment concerns and market has generated
15 opportunities to widely utilize field deployable GC-MS systems. The critical
need for a small portable chemical analysis instrument, which is easy to use
in a field environment, but which provides laboratory-grade data, has
generated much interest among potential users. The need for such
instruments is worldwide in scope. The need is driven by the increasing
20 public awareness of environmental issues, and secured by extensive and
growing public policy and regulations impacting those issues. The following
outlines various current and new future applications for high resolution
portable GC-MS instruments:
1. Forensics: The support of law enforcement for the analysis of
25 drugs, crime scene evidence, accident debris, and arson residues.
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Andresen, Brian D.; Eckels, Joel D.; Kimmons, James F. & Myers, David W. Portable gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer, patent, December 31, 1994; California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc667905/m1/4/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.