Mass spectrometers high-resolution studies

There are three main reasons for this choice. Firstly, it becomes more and more difficult to obtain recordable, molecular-ion signals from un-derivatized carbohydrates as their M, increases significantly above 3000. Secondly, the mass spectrometers that have been used in all high-mass-carbofiydrate studies published at the time of writing this article are not capable of very sensitive analysis above —3800 mass units (see later). Thirdly, at masses >4000, it is usually not practicable to work at the resolution necessary for adjacent peaks to appear as separate signals in the spectrum. To do so would require that the source and collector slits be narrowed to such a degree that there would be an unacceptable loss in sensitivity. Thus, spectra acquired at mass >4000 are usually composed of unresolved clusters. 

The kinetics study [38] utilized a Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer to measure the pathway branching ratios. The ability to eject selected masses and the extremely high mass resolution of this technique ensured that the observed CD3CH2 was in fact a primary product of the reaction. Temporal profiles from this reaction are shown in Fig. 1. Noticeably absent from the mass spectrum are the cations C2D2H3 and... 

Applications Sector instruments are applied for niche applications such as high-resolution measurements and fundamental ion chemistry studies. Magnetic sector mass spectrometers remain the instrument of choice in areas of target compound trace analysis, accurate mass measurement and isotope ratio measurement. 

Exact mass measurement at high resolution is an important tool along with other spectroscopic methods to help confirm the structure of novel flavonoids. It is used as structural proof when elemental analysis is not possible, e.g., when studying minor components. When EI-MS can be used, 1 to 10 pmol samples are required for one measurement however, when FAB-MS is used, 0.1 to 1 nmol is normally required. The use of ESI on a double focusing mass spectrometers and MALDI-TOF-MS requires smaller amounts of sample, and subpi-comole amounts of flavonoids may be adequate. 

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