The article presents a technique of differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS) applicable to the detection and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from such categories as n-alkanes, alcohols, acetate esters, ketones, botulinum toxin, BTX, and fluoro- and chloro-organic compounds. A possibility of mixture identification using only the DMS spectrometer is analyzed, and several examples are published for the first time. An analysis of different compounds and their mechanisms of fragmentation, influence on effective ion temperature, and high electric field intensity is discussed.
Keywords: differential ion mobility spectrometry; ion mobility spectrometry; volatile organic compounds.