Advances in the Design and Functionality of a Compact Multi-Reflecting Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer

Abstract

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWO_ST_ABSRationaleC_ST_ABSHigh-resolution mass spectrometry is routinely used for the analysis of complex samples in pharmaceutical, environmental, and omics related studies. Such applications demand instrumentation to be capable of combining sub-ppm mass accuracy, high resolving power, rapid full m/z range acquisition, over a wide dynamic range. MethodsAchieving the above requirements places constraints on analyzer design and performance. Multi-reflecting time-of-flight (MRT) based analyzers have previously been reported as a means of significantly extending the effective flight path in compact TOF designs. Here, further instrument and functionality advances in a compact MRT mass spectrometer design are described. ResultsThe impact of these enhancements was assessed for targeted and non-targeted omics applications, examining the impact of acquisition speed on resolving power, dynamic range including limits of quantitation, and quantitative precision. ConclusionThe results obtained characterize the performance of the enhanced design features of a compact MRT mass spectrometer. Operation at elevated acquisition rates up to 200 Hz was observed without loss in resolving power, isotopic ratio accuracy, or quantitative precision.