Paper spray and related ambient ionization mass spectrometry applications in food control

Abstract

In the analysis of food, mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the most universal and widely applied techniques. Recently, the outburst of the invention of several ambient ionization (AI) sources has innovated the way to conduct routine MS analysis in various fields, including food analysis. Paper spray ionization (PSI) is a representative example of AI methods that have been successfully coupled with a contemporary mass spectrometer. Our current work aims to summarize typical applications of PSI and the pertinent AI methods in diverse areas of food control, along with a discussion on their advantages and inherent limitations. Lastly, the prospects of these AI techniques for food control are presented.