Spectrometer choices

Some additional practical issues noted in general terms in Table 5.1 also apply to the choice of laser. Water cooling or electrical power requirements other than 110 V can be inconvenient in an analytical lab, particularly for field or portable operation. As indicated in Table 7.1, the more powerful lasers such as Ar+ often have such requirements. In addition, the capital and operating costs of the lasers in Table 7.1 differ significantly and may be an issue in laser or spectrometer choice. Of the lasers listed, the diode, Nd.YAG (fundamental and doubled) and He-Ne lasers are relatively Inexpensive and do not require special cooling or power, while the Ar+, Kr" ", and doubled Ar+ lasers are more expensive and require special installation. 

In essence, a guided-ion beam is a double mass spectrometer. Figure A3.5.9 shows a schematic diagram of a griided-ion beam apparatus [104]. Ions are created and extracted from an ion source. Many types of source have been used and the choice depends upon the application. Combining a flow tube such as that described in this chapter has proven to be versatile and it ensures the ions are thennalized [105]. After extraction, the ions are mass selected. Many types of mass spectrometer can be used a Wien ExB filter is shown. The ions are then injected into an octopole ion trap. The octopole consists of eight parallel rods arranged on a circle. An RF... 

A connnon approach has been to measure the equilibrium constant, K, for these reactions as a fiinction of temperature with the use of a variable temperature high pressure ion source (see section (Bl.7.2)1. The ion concentrations are approximated by their abundance in the mass spectrum, while the neutral concentrations are known from the sample mlet pressure. A van t Hoff plot of In K versus /T should yield a straight Ime with slope equal to the reaction enthalpy (figure B1.7.11). Combining the PA with a value for basicityG at one temperature yields a value for A.S for the half-reaction involving addition of a proton to a species. While quadnipoles have been tire instruments of choice for many of these studies, other mass spectrometers can act as suitable detectors [19, 20]. 

The choice of a mass spectrometer to fulfill any particular task must take into account the nature of the substances to be examined, the degree of separation required for mixtures, the types of ion source and inlet systems, and the types of mass analyzer. Once these individual requirements have been defined, it is much easier to discriminate among the numerous commercial instruments that are available. Once suitable mass spectrometers have been identified, it is then often a case of balancing capital and running costs, reUability, ea.se of routine use, after-sales service, and manufacturer reputation. 

Multidimensional or hyphenated instmments employ two or more analytical instmmental techniques, either sequentially, or in parallel. Hence, one can have multidimensional separations, eg, hplc/gc, identifications, ms/ms, or separations/identifications, such as gc/ms (see CHROMATOGRAPHY Mass spectrometry). The purpose of interfacing two or more analytical instmments is to increase the analytical information while reducing data acquisition time. For example, in tandem-mass spectrometry (ms/ms) (17,18), the first mass spectrometer appHes soft ionization to separate the mixture of choice into molecular ions the second mass spectrometer obtains the mass spectmm of each ion. 

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. 

Diphenylcarbazide as adsorption indicator, 358 as colorimetric reagent, 687 Diphenylthiocarbazone see Dithizone Direct reading emission spectrometer 775 Dispensers (liquid) 84 Displacement titrations 278 borate ion with a strong acid, 278 carbonate ion with a strong acid, 278 choice of indicators for, 279, 280 Dissociation (ionisation) constant 23, 31 calculations involving, 34 D. of for a complex ion, (v) 602 for an indicator, (s) 718 of polyprotic acids, 33 values for acids and bases in water, (T) 832 true or thermodynamic, 23 Distribution coefficient 162, 195 and per cent extraction, 165 Distribution ratio 162 Dithiol 693, 695, 697 Dithizone 171, 178... 

The application areas for LC-MS, as will be illustrated later, are diverse, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative determinations of both high-and low-molecular-weight materials, including synthetic polymers, biopolymers, environmental pollutants, pharmaceutical compounds (drugs and their metabolites) and natural products. In essence, it is used for any compounds which are found in complex matrices for which HPLC is the separation method of choice and where the mass spectrometer provides the necessary selectivity and sensitivity to provide quantitative information and/or it provides structural information that cannot be obtained by using other detectors. 

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. 

A higher-MHz NMR spectrometer is always a better choice, since the sensitivity of the experiment is proportional to the frequency of measurement. Moreover, with highly concentrated solutions, the presence of some solid particles can cause an increase in T) (FID will be short) and line broadening of the NMR signals will result. Therefore, an optimum concentration (say, 25-50 millimolar solution) is recommended. Of course, H-NMR spectra can be readily measured at much lower concentrations, though higher concentrations are necessary for recording - C-NMR spectra. 

Universal and selective detectors, linked to GC or LC systems, have remained the predominant choice of analysts for the past two decades for the determination of pesticide residues in food. Although the introduction of bench-top mass spectrometers has enabled analysts to produce more unequivocal residue data for most pesticides, in many laboratories the use of selective detection methods, such as flame photometric detection (FPD), electron capture detection (BCD) and alkali flame ionization detection (AFID) or nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD), continues. Many of the new technologies associated with the on-going development of instrumental methods are discussed. However, the main objective of this section is to describe modern techniques that have been demonstrated to be of use to the pesticide residue analyst. 

Specificity is unsurpassed. Traditionally, MS was performed on very large and expensive high-resolution sector instruments operated by experienced specialists. The introduction of low-resolution (1 amu), low-cost, bench-top mass spectrometers in the early 1980s provided analysts with a robust analytical tool with a more universal range of application. Two types of bench-top mass spectrometers have predominated the quadrupole or mass-selective detector (MSD) and the ion-trap detector (ITD). These instruments do not have to be operated by specialists and can be utilized routinely by residue analysts after limited training. The MSD is normally operated in the SIM mode to increase detection sensitivity, whereas the ITD is more suited to operate in the full-scan mode, as little or no increase in sensitivity is gained by using SIM. Both MSDs and ITDs are widely used in many laboratories for pesticide residue analyses, and the preferred choice of instrument can only be made after assessment of the performance for a particular application. 

Currently, HPLC/fiuorescence is still the most common technique for the determination of residues of oxime carbamates. With the introduction of ESI and APCI MS interfaces, HPLC/MS analysis for oxime carbamates in various sample matrices has become widespread. However, for a rapid, sensitive, and specific analysis of biological and environmental samples, HPLC/MS/MS is preferred to HPLC/MS and HPLC/fiuorescence. With time, improved and affordable triple-quadrupole mass spectrometers will be available in more analytical laboratories. With stricter regulatory requirements, e.g., highly specific and conclusive methods with lower LOQ, HPLC/MS/MS will be a method of choice for oxime carbamates and their metabolites. 

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