Mass resolution higher

In the ion trap, both dipole and qnadrupole supplemental fields are applied to the two end-cap electrodes with their frequencies tuned to = 2/3. The tripleresonance scan function [9] results in improved mass resolution, higher scan speed, and extended charge capacity, as shown in Figure 15.3a and b. 

Higher mass resolution is becoming more common in MC-ICPMS technology. The result will be a reduction in the hindrances of isobaric interferences. With judicious use of narrow entrance slits and improvements in ion optics, even smaller radius instruments can resolve 50Ti from Mg+, for example. However, at this writing most studies have made use of low-mass-resolution instruments, and even with high mass resolution, care must still be taken to avoid changes in instrumental fractionation due the presence of elements other than the analyte in the plasma. 

Two more MS-related innovations are worth noting here (1) higher mass resolution on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer and (2) atmospheric pressure... 

Xu, X. Using higher mass resolution in quantitative assays, in Using Mass Spectrometry for Drug Metabolism Studies, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2005, pp 203-228. 

Quadrupole/TOF A version of the triple quadrupole is to replace the third quadrupole with a TOFMS. This provides potentially faster analysis and higher mass resolution. 

In 1974, Comarisov and Marshall60 developed Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). This technique allows mass spectrometric measurements at ultrahigh mass resolution (R = 100000-1000000), which is higher than that of any other type of mass spectrometer and has the highest mass accuracy at attomole detection limits. FTICR-MS is applied today together with soft ionization techniques, such as nano ESI (electrospray ionization) or MALDI (matrix assisted laser/desorption ionization) sources. 

Operation of quadrupole mass filters operated in higher zones of stability is described with an emphasis on the potential of elemental mass spectrometry by Du et al.19 These quadrupole mass filters allow a mass resolution in the second stability region of up to 9000 and make it possible to resolve a multitude of isobaric interferences. 

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