Syngas – or synthetic gas – is created by the gasification of carbonaceous materials, and is made up of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in various ratios. It is used in the synthesis of ammonia, methanol, and synthetic natural gas, as well as in the direct reduction of iron ore, the generation of synthetic petroleum, and the production of bioethanol from biomass. The gasification process relies heavily on real-time monitoring to control the ratio of syngas constituents, for which mass spectrometry (MS) techniques are the industry standard. This article takes a looks at the top things to consider when choosing an MS system to enable precise control and optimization of syngas production.