Development of In Situ Monitoring Sensor for Oil Spills in the Mediterranean Sea Using Portable Mass Spectrometry

This study addresses the need for rapid, in situ detection of volatile organic compounds associated with oil contamination in aquatic environments. Membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) offers a direct, continuous monitoring approach without the need for chromatographic separation, making it suitable for real-time environmental analysis. In this work, a portable MIMS system was deployed at multiple pilot sites, including a fixed buoy platform, to evaluate its capability for detecting selected hydrocarbon target compounds under field conditions. Measurements were conducted over extended periods, and mass spectral data were continuously recorded and analyzed. Across all monitoring campaigns, no signals corresponding to the target analytes were observed above the established limits of detection. These findings demonstrate the robustness of the applied MIMS configuration for continuous environmental monitoring and confirm its suitability for detecting trace-level pollutants when present. The results also highlight the importance of field validation under realistic conditions, providing a basis for further optimization and broader application of MIMS in environmental surveillance.