Accuracy mass analyzers

Ninonuevo, M. et al. Nanoliquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of oligosaccharides employing graphitized carbon chromatography on microchip with a high-accuracy mass analyzer. Electrophoresis, 26,3641,2005. 

In analyses where molecular masses are being matched, more accurate mass measurements provide more reliable matches and identifications.26,65,66 In a reference laboratory the mass accuracy to several decimal points, provided by a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass analyzer, may be desirable. In field or portable systems there is usually a trade-off in mass accuracy for size and ruggedness. Reliable identifications can be made with moderate mass accuracy, even 1 Da, if a large enough suite of molecular ions is recorded and used to search the database. If both positive ion and negative ion spectra are... 

Mass analyzer Resolving power (xlO3) Mass accuracy (ppm) m z range (upper limit) (xlO3) Acquisition speed (Hz) Linear dynamic range Price... 

For high-throughput analysis, it is important to increase the specihcity of each bioanalytical method. The enhancement of chromatographic resolution presents various limitations. Better selectivity can be obtained with TOF mass analyzers that routinely provide more than 5000 resolution (full width at half-mass or FWHM). The enhanced selectivity of a TOF MS is very attractive for problems such as matrix suppression and metabolite interference. In one report of quantitative analysis using SRM, TOF appeared less sensitive than triple quadrupole methods but exhibited comparable dynamic range with acceptable precision and accuracy.102... 

MS equipment is evaluated on several performance metrics. Mass accuracy, mass resolution, and mass range are standard parameters frequently assessed to determine the suitability of an instrument. Mass accuracy is defined as the extent to which a mass analyzer reflects true m/z values and is measured in atomic mass units (amu), parts per million (ppm), or percent accuracy. 

Mass resolution describes the capability of an MS to distinguish ions with different m/z values. It is defined by the M/AM equation in which M is the m/z ratio of a mass peak and AM is the full width of a peak at half its maximum height. The mass resolution of an instrument often correlates with its accuracy. Mass range indicates the m/z range at which the mass analyzer best functions. For example, quadrupole mass analyzers exhibit a mass range of up to 4000 m/z, while the mass ranges of TOF extend up to 100,000. The operating principles of common MS instruments are discussed below. 

TOF analyzers are especially compatible with MALDI ion sources and hence are frequently coupled in aMALDI-TOF configuration. Nevertheless, many commercial mass spectrometers combine ESI with TOF with great success. For proteomics applications, the quadrupole TOF (QqTOF) hybrid instruments with their superior mass accuracy, mass range, and mass resolution are of much greater utility than simple TOF instruments.21,22 Moreover, TOF instruments feature high sensitivity because they can generate full scan data without the necessity for scanning that causes ion loss and decreased sensitivity. Linear mode TOF instruments cannot perform tandem mass spectrometry. This problem is addressed by hybrid instruments that incorporate analyzers with mass selective capability (e.g., QqTOF) in front of a TOF instrument. 

The m/z values of peptide ions are mathematically derived from the sine wave profile by the performance of a fast Fourier transform operation. Thus, the detection of ions by FTICR is distinct from results from other MS approaches because the peptide ions are detected by their oscillation near the detection plate rather than by collision with a detector. Consequently, masses are resolved only by cyclotron frequency and not in space (sector instruments) or time (TOF analyzers). The magnetic field strength measured in Tesla correlates with the performance properties of FTICR. The instruments are very powerful and provide exquisitely high mass accuracy, mass resolution, and sensitivity—desirable properties in the analysis of complex protein mixtures. FTICR instruments are especially compatible with ESI29 but may also be used with MALDI as an ionization source.30 FTICR requires sophisticated expertise. Nevertheless, this technique is increasingly employed successfully in proteomics studies. 

TI is a very precise and accurate method in stable isotope ratio measurements and quantification of inorganic elements, for example, by isotope dilution mass spectrometry [8]. Because TI is a continuous ion source, it could be coupled to any analyzer that is suitable for such sources. However, because the strength of TI lies in the quantitative precision and accuracy, sector analyzers are preferred to ensure maximum quality. 

The orbitrap is the most recently invented mass analyzer. Like with the QIT, ions are trapped and stored in a potential well. However, instead of ejecting the ions for external detection the frequency of the trapped oscillationg ions is measured. This method provides substantially better resolution and mass accuracy in normal operation. 

Performance Parameters. Since the detector is often involved in the separation of isobars, normal mass analyzer resolution and mass accuracy do not really apply. The mass spectrometric resolution would be determined by the magnetic and electric sectors. Only atomic species are analyzed, so that sets the upper m/z... 

Achieving high resolving power and high m/z measurement accuracy is one way of decreasing uncertainty when the determination of unknown analyte identity is the object of an experiment. But like many techniques, an increase in experimental or interpretive confidence does not come without some cost (e.g., instrument size, complexity, price, etc.). However, exact m/z measurements (and their associated elemental formula information) are but one type of information that can be derived from mass spectrometers. In the sections that follow, a variety of mass analyzers will be described in terms of their basic principles, functionality and applications. 

Note The numerous ionization methods and mass analyzers in use have created a demand for a large number of calibration compounds to suit their specific needs. Therefore, mass calibration compounds will occasionally be addressed later in the chapters on ionization methods. It is also not possible to specify a general level of mass accuracy with external calibration. Depending on the type of mass analyzer and on the frequency of recalibration, mass accuracy can be as high as 1 mmu or as low as 0.5 u. 

The proportionality of time-of-flight to the square root of m/z causes At for a given Am/z to decrease with increasing m/z under otherwise the same conditions At per 1 u is calculated as 114 ns at m/z 20, 36 ns at m/z 200, and just 11 ns at m/z 2000. Therefore, the realization of a time-of-flight mass analyzer depends on the ability to measure short time intervals with sufficient accuracy. [32-34] At this point it becomes clear that the performance of the early TOE analyzers - among other reasons - suffered from the too slow electronics of their time. It took until the mid-1990s to overcome this barrier. 

In tandem MS mode, because the product ions are recorded with the same TOF mass analyzers as in full scan mode, the same high resolution and mass accuracy is obtained. Isolation of the precursor ion can be performed either at unit mass resolution or at 2-3 m/z units for multiply charged ions. Accurate mass measurements of the elemental composition of product ions greatly facilitate spectra interpretation and the main applications are peptide analysis and metabolite identification using electrospray iomzation [68]. In TOF mass analyzers accurate mass determination can be affected by various parameters such as (i) ion intensities, (ii) room temperature or (iii) detector dead time. Interestingly, the mass spectrum can be recalibrated post-acquisition using the mass of a known ion (lock mass). The lock mass can be a cluster ion in full scan mode or the residual precursor ion in the product ion mode. For LC-MS analysis a dual spray (LockSpray) source has been described, which allows the continuous introduction of a reference analyte into the mass spectrometer for improved accurate mass measurements [69]. The versatile precursor ion scan, another specific feature of the triple quadrupole, is maintained in the QqTOF instrument. However, in pre-... 

The general characteristics of a mass analyzer are accuracy, resolving power, mass range, and tandem analysis capabilities. 

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