Advances in Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry and Its Hyphenation with Sample Pretreatment Techniques

Direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) is widely used in food analysis, forensic science, pharmaceutical analysis, clinical science, environmental science and other fields, as it requires no or minimal sample preparation and can perform in-situ ionization and direct sample analysis. Although the quantitative results of DART-MS have been reported to be comparable to those of liquid/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the detection performance of trace analytes is still an important issue. To obtain more accurate quantitative results, a series of sample pretreatment technologies have been developed to be combined with DART-MS. In this review, the general principle of DART-MS is introduced, followed by its applications in different research fields that do not require sample pretreatment. Sample pretreatment technologies coupling with DART-MS, including solid-phase extraction (SPE) , solid-phase microextraction (SPME) , solid-phase mesh enhanced sorption from headspace (SPMESH) , dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) , dispersive micro solid-phase extraction (DMSPE) , mechanochemical extraction (MCE) , microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and thermal desorption (TD) are further summarized and commented.