[tt] physorg: 5kg mass spectrometer

[Alejandro Dubrovsky]

(
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/ancham/2008/80/i19/abs/ac801275x.html
)

Design and Characterization of a Multisource Hand-Held Tandem Mass
Spectrometer

Liang Gao,† Andy Sugiarto,† Jason D. Harper,‡ R. Graham Cooks,*†§ and
Zheng Ouyang*‡§

Department of Chemistry, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, and
Center for Analytical Instrumentation Development, Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907

Received for review June 23, 2008. Accepted August 19, 2008.

Abstract:

A wireless-controlled miniature rectilinear ion trap mass spectrometer
system, total weight with batteries 5.0 kg, consuming less than 35 W of
power, and having dimensions of 22 cm in length by 12 cm in width by 18
cm in height, is characterized. The design and construction of the mass
spectrometer including mass analyzer, vacuum system, electronics system,
and data acquisition and processing systems, is detailed. The mass
spectrometer is compatible with various types of ionization sources
including a glow discharge electron impact ionization source used in the
internal ionization mode, and various atmospheric pressure ionization
sources, including electrospray ionization, atmospheric pressure
chemical ionization, and desorption electrospray ionization, which are
employed for external, atmospheric pressure ionization. These external
sources are coupled to the miniature mass spectrometer via a capillary
interface that is operated in a discontinuous fashion (discontinuous
atmospheric pressure interface) to maximize ion transport. The
performance of the mass spectrometer for large and small molecules is
characterized. Limits of detection in the parts-per-billion range were
obtained for selected compounds examined using both the internal
ionization and external ionization modes. Tandem mass spectrometry and
fast in situ analysis capabilities are also demonstrated using a variety
of compounds and ionization sources. Protein molecules are analyzed as
the multiply protonated molecules with mass/charge ratios up to 1500
Da/charge.