The mass spectrometer is an instrument which can measure the masses and relative concentrations of atoms and molecules. It is a powerful analytical technique that is used to identify unknown compounds, to quantify known compounds, and to elucidate the structure and chemical properties of molecules.

Mass spectrometers are used in industry and academia for both routine and research purposes. The following list is just a brief summary of some mass spectrometric applications:

• Biotechnology: the analysis of proteins, peptides, oligonucleotides   Monitor fermentation processes for the biotechnology industry
  
• Pharmaceutical: drug discovery, combinatorial chemistry, pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism
  
• Clinical: neonatal screening, haemoglobin analysis, drug testing.   Detect and identify the use of steroids in athletes, monitor the breath of patients by anesthesiologists during surgery, determine gene damage from environmental causes
  
• Environmental: PAHs, PCBs, water quality, food contamination.   Determine the composition of molecular species found in space Detect dioxins in contaminated fish
  
• Geological: oil composition.   Locate oil deposits by measuring petroleum precursors in rock