Q-TOF Mass Spectrometer; Help Identify and Quantify Complex Mixtures and Unknown Compounds

 

Q-TOF Mass Spectrometer

A Q-TOF mass spectrometer, or quadrupole time of flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer (MS) is a type of mass spectrometer where the mass-to-charge ratio of sample ions is measured whereas the ions are held in a stable orbit by an electric field generated by four parallel electrodes. The Q-TOF MS is a hybrid instrument combining quadrupole technologies with a time-of-flight mass analyzer. Q-TOF mass spectrometer closely resembles that of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, though the third quadrupole has been replaced by a time-of-flight tube.

According to Coherent Market Insights the Q-TOF Mass Spectrometer Market Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022-2028.

Q-TOF mass spectrometers are used to identify, characterize, and quantify a variety of compounds within a sample. These systems have wide range of applications, including environmental analysis, forensics, and drug testing. Compared to traditional mass analyzers, Q-TOF mass spectrometer are faster and can be configured with various features to improve resolution, accuracy, and sensitivity. It is an approach to capturing a broad molecular weight range of signals associated with polar and nonpolar compounds in a single sample.

This method uses electric field to accelerate ions to the same potential. Q-TOF mass spectrometer combines TOF and quadrupole instruments, which cause high mass accuracy for the product ions, accurate quantitation capability, and fragmentation experiment applicability. The hybridization of quadrupole and TOF technology resulted in high-resolution, high mass accuracy analysis of ions simultaneously, which is used to identify and quantify complex mixtures or unknown compounds. It is able to isolate and fragment specific ions, as well as measure accurate mass.

In June 2022, Shimadzu (Japan) released the LCMS-9050 quadrupole TOF mass spectrometer. As Shimadzu’s top-class model, it can simultaneously measure both positive and negative ions at the world’s fastest rate. Q-TOF mass spectrometer (MS) has revolutionized numerous fields, ranging from biological and pharmaceutical research to clinical toxicology. The application of Q-TOF MS to drug screening is providing the clinician with a far more detailed analysis of pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and toxins that may be present in a patient sample.