Recent Developments in Combined Supercritical Fluid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (SFC/MS)

During the three year period since the last review [1], the technique of SFC/MS has not progressed significantly, and it can be considered to be still in a steady state. An excellent critical analysis of the capabilities, advantages, and shortcomings of the various types of SFC/MS interfaces can also be found in a recent review by Pinkston [2]. The reasons for this situation are examined, and future directions that could give a new start are discussed, and in particular, the use of packed rather than capillary SFC columns, interfaced to an atmospheric pressure ionization source rather than to a conventional EI/CI source under a vacuum.