ELECTROSPRAY AND ICP-MASS SPECTROMETRY - ENEMIES OR ALLIES

A case is made that either inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometr y or electrospray-mass spectrometry alone will not be adequate for the identification of unknown elemental species at trace levels in comple x mixtures. These two types of ion source can be readily combined to p rovide both selective elemental analysis and molecular identification. The liquid flow rate regimes of these two measurement techniques are such that little compromise is expected if the two are used simultaneo usly on the same liquid chromatographic effluent. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V.