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Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) was selected as a means of detection because of its high sensitivity and selectivity. Three cotton industry problems potentially addressed by this technology are plastic contamination in seed cotton, cotton smoke in warehouses, and insect pheromones associated with stickiness. Recent research has demonstrated the potential and begun identification of appropriate strategies for ionization and selective pre-concentration.

Cotton smoke can be differentiated from smoke of paper, grass, cigarettes and gasoline using solid phase micro extraction preconcentration, photoionization and a Planar Field Asymmetric-field Ion Mobility Spectrometer (PFAIMS) detector. Small amounts of contaminating plastic can be detected in seed cotton using membrane preconcentration, nickel ionization and conventional time of flight IMS. Insect pheromones have been successfully detected with gas chromatograph preconcentration, nickel ionization and a PFAIMS detector. While far from commercialization, these technologies have been shown to be feasible and are projected to be economical.