High-resolving mass analyzers

The most effective technique to deal with complex spectra due to multiply charged ions is to achieve the full separation between signals corresponding to different charge states and to resolve their isotopic patterns. Beyond a molecular weight of about 2000 u this requires high-resolving mass analyzers. 

Accurate mass measurement requires high resolving power. The difference in degrees of difficulty between measuring an m/z of 28 and one of 28.000 is likely to be large. Table 39.3 shows the broad mass ranges achievable with various analyzers. 

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. 

Mass Analyzers Analysis based on mass-to-charge ratio occurs within the mass analyzer of the instrument. The mass analyzer is often used as the basis for differentiating and discussing various types of mass spectrometers. Mass analyzers commonly considered to operate at a high resolving power are denoted by HRMS under the mass analyzer listing. 

Orbitrap The newest of the major mass analyzers, the Orbitrap is a hybrid MS consisting of a LIT mass analyzer, or transmission quadmpoles connected to the high-resolution Orbitrap mass analyzer. The Orbitrap utilizes electrical fields between sections of a roughly egg-shaped outer electrode and an inner (spindle) electrode (Chapter 5). Ions orbit between the inner and outer electrodes and their oscillation is recorded on detector plates (Hardman and Makarov, 2003 Hu et al., 2005). As with the FTICR, fast Fourier transform of the raw data is used to convert the data for mass analysis, making the Orbitrap the second major type of FTMS instrument. The resolving power of the Orbitrap is intermediate... 

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