Data interpretation in GC-ion mobility spectrometry: Pecunia non Olet?

The analysis of multi-component gas-phase mixtures by ion mobility spectrometry with gas-chromatographic pre-separation obtains complex data. In particular, numerous compound specific signals make data interpretation challenging. Here we describe the procedure of data treatment and processing to facilitate the interpretation of such data. In detail, after data pre-processing (smoothing, baseline correction, alignment of ion mobility and retention time) and after specifying threshold values for each one of the detected signals to reduce information from signal intensities down to only presence or absence of the signals, a kind of barcode for each sample will remain. Using this “barcode” as sample description, it is possible to differentiate between different samples immediately after data acquisition. We exemplarily applied this approach for the differentiation of various banknotes of different values and from different currencies as well as of real from counterfeit money successfully.

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