Resolution of Mass Spectrometers

The combination of an electric sector field with a magnetic sector field to form a double-focusing instrument is advantageous for improving the properties (e.g., the mass resolution) of mass spectrometers. 

The choice of mass spectrometer for a particular analysis depends on the namre of the sample and the desired results. For low detection limits, high mass resolution, or stigmatic imaging, a magnetic sector-based instrument should be used. The analysis of dielectric materials (in many cases) or a need for ultrahigh depth resolution requires the use of a quadrupole instrument. 

To minimize surface damage, static SIMS mass spectrometers should be as efficient as possible for detecting the total yield of secondary ions from a surface. Also, to be able to separate elemental from molecular species, and molecular species from each other, the mass resolution usually given as the mass m divided by the separable mass Am, should be very high. With this in mind, two types of mass spectrometer have been used - in early work mainly quadrupole mass filters and, more recently, time-of-flight mass spectrometers. 

Lasers have advanced the analytical use of mass spectrometers to characterise additives in polymers, and routine application of MALDI is no longer limited to high molecular masses only. MALDI can now clearly produce isotopically resolved mass spectra of small molecules (<800 Da) in an L-ToF instrument, which can be used successfully for the characterisation of molecules of different chemical classes. High mass resolution with an improvement of mass accuracy to... 

In a well-equipped laboratory it is mandatory that these three techniques be coupled with a mass spectrometric detector in order to achieve a combination of resolution of mixtures, positive identification of separated organics and the high sensitivity that is essential when dealing with environmental samples. The penetration of mass spectrometers in recent years is indicated by the fact that of the 50 types of organic compound that have been determined by gas chromatography in 21 cases mass spectrometric detection is discussed. This trend will, no doubt, continue. 

In order to successfully interpret a mass spectrum, we have to know about the isotopic masses and their relation to the atomic weights of the elements, about isotopic abundances and the isotopic patterns resulting therefrom and finally, about high-resolution and accurate mass measurements. These issues are closely related to each other, offer a wealth of analytical information, and are valid for any type of mass spectrometer and any ionization method employed. (The kinetic aspect of isotopic substitution are discussed in Chap. 2.9.)... 

The coupling of a mass spectrometer to CE and CEC provides a powerful system for the analysis of pharmaceuticals and complex biological mixtures. This can replace or complement other conventional detection methods such as UV, electrochemical, or LIE that provide less structural information. The use of mass spectrometer as a detector enhances the usefulness of the CE and CEC and allows an efficient separation and identification of complex mixtures, obtaining structure and/or molecular mass information. The choice of mass analyzers used in CE/CEC-MS depends on factors such as sensitivity, mass resolution, requirement for structural elucidation, and the type of application (Table 5). The analyzers that have been used in CEC analysis include time-of-flight (TOE), quadrupole (Q), ion-trap (IT), fourier... 

As we optimized Tethering we used a variety of mass spectrometers. In our experience, the sensitivity and high resolution of TOP analyzers has provided the most rapid and accurate analyses of intact proteins. An example of an ESI-TOF data set from a standard experiment is illustrated in Fig. 9.2. Figure 9.2A is the deconvoluted mass spectrum of a Cys-mutant target protein after equilibration... 

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. 

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