Applications of Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS): An Examination of Selected African Cases

As a result of the new economic order in Africa, scientists face enormous challenges due to an increase in socio and economic activities. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) will be expected to play a big role in providing some of the solutions to the challenges. Up to now, applications of GC–MS in Africa have focused on profiling natural products for their chemical composition as seen from the number of papers published between 2005 and 2011, i.e. at approximately 62 % of the total. In order to meet the new challenges, a paradigm shift is suggested in the design of research projects. Some economic activities envisaged to boom are food and beverage production for local consumption and for export to markets in the developed world. To meet the requirements of these markets, monitoring pesticides and metabolites of veterinary drugs and other toxins in food will become paramount. Africa also needs to put stringent environmental monitoring policies in place. This will aid remediation following accidental or intentional spillages of chemicals not benign to the environment.