Hybrid mass spectrometers

Mass spectrometer configuration. Multianalyzer instruments should be named for the analyzers in the sequence in which they are traversed by the ion beam, where B is a magnetic analyzer, E is an electrostatic analyzer, Q is a quadrupole analyzer, TOP is a time-of-flight analyzer, and ICR is an ion cyclotron resonance analyzer. For example BE mass spectrometer (reversed-geometry double-focusing instrument), BQ mass spectrometer (hybrid sector and quadrupole instrument), EBQ (double-focusing instrument followed by a quadrupole). 

A TOF analyzer can be used alone or in conjunction with other analyzers to function as a hybrid mass spectrometer. The hybrids provide advantages not attainable, or difficult to attain by the... 

The AutoSpec -TOF hybrid mass spectrometer combines the advantages of a magnetic/electric-sector instrument with those of time-of-flight to give a versatile instrument capable of MS or MS/MS at high or low resolution. 

By being able to obtain an unequivocal relative molecular mass, or even a molecular formula derived from that mass, the hybrid mass spectrometer becomes a powerful tool for investigating single substances or mixtures of substances. With an APCI inlet, fragmentation can be induced to obtain structural information (see Chapter 9). 

The term Q/TOF is used to describe a type of hybrid mass spectrometer system in which a quadrupole analyzer (Q) is used in conjunction with a time-of-flight analyzer (TOP). The use of two analyzers together (hybridized) provides distinct advantages that cannot be achieved by either analyzer individually. In the Q/TOF, the quadrupole is used in one of two modes to select the ions to be examined, and the TOF analyzer measures the actual mass spectrum. Hexapole assemblies are also used to help collimate the ion beams. The hybrid orthogonal Q/TOF instrument is illustrated in Figure 23.1. 

Linked Scanning, Ion Traps, and Hybrid Mass Spectrometers... 

For some kinds of analyses, it is convenient to have two combined mass spectrometers. This combination naturally increases costs therefore purchase of such hybrid instruments tends to require much... 

TOF instmments can be operated as stand-alone mass spectrometers (in-line with an ion source), but they frequently are used in combination with other techniques to give hybrid instmments. In such... 

Hybrid time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers make use of a TOF analyzer placed at right angles to a main ion beam. Ions are deflected from this beam by a pulsed electric fleld at right angles to the ion beam direction. The deflected ions travel down the TOF tube for analysis. Hybrid TOF mass spectrometers have many advantages arising from the combination of two techniques, neither of which alone would be as useful. 

Each type of mass spectrometer has its associated advantages and disadvantages. Quadrupole-based systems offer a fairly simple ion optics design that provides a certain degree of flexibility with respect to instrument configuration. For example, quadrupole mass filters are often found in hybrid systems, that is, coupled with another surface analytical method, such as electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis or scanning Auger spectroscopy. 

When the first quadrupole of a triple quadrupole is replaced by a double-focusing mass spectrometer, the instrument is termed a hybrid (i.e. a hybrid of magnetic sector and quadrupole technologies). Figure 3.9 shows the MSi unit as a forward-geometry instrument although there is no reason why this could not be of reversed- or even tri-sector geometry. 

BordoU, R., Hoyes, J., Langridge, J., Chervet, J-P., Vissers, H. and van Veelen, P., Nanobore HPLC-MS and HPLC-MS/MS using a nanoflow ESI interface and a Q-Tof hybrid mass spectrometer . Micromass Technical Note 108, Micromass, Manchester, UK, 1998. 

Hybrid mass spectrometer An MS-MS instrument combining magnetic sector and quadrupole mass analysers. 

Mass spectrometers which have the capability of analysing samples by a FAB or FIB/LSIMS-source tend to be fitted with either one alternative or the other such mass spectrometers have either a magnetic sector or a quadrupole analyser (or hybrid or tandem combinations). 

Thermospray ionisation sources are usually outfitted with a quadrupole or magnetic sector mass spectrometer (including hybrids or tandem forms). Thermospray operation allows a reversed-phase solvent system, e.g. a 50 50 (v/v) water-methanol or acetonitrile mix containing 0.1 M ammonium acetate. This ensures compatibility with the universal HPLC procedures available in many industrial research laboratories. 

In mass spectrometers, ions are analysed according to the ml7. (mass-to-charge) value and not to the mass. While there are many possible combinations of technologies associated with a mass-spectrometry experiment, relatively few forms of mass analysis predominate. They include linear multipoles, such as the quadrupole mass filter, time-of-flight mass spectrometry, ion trapping forms of mass spectrometry, including the quadrupole ion trap and Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron resonance, and sector mass spectrometry. Hybrid instruments intend to combine the strengths of the component analysers. 

Various tandem MS instrument configurations have been developed, e.g. sector instruments, such as CBCE, CBCECB or CECBCE, and hybrid instruments, e.g. BCECQQ (B = magnetic sector analyser, E = electrostatic analyser, C = collision cell, Q = quadrupole mass spectrometer), all with specific performance. Sector mass spectrometers have been reviewed [168],... 

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