MS instruments at the IMSC

The list of MS equipment below is organized by instrument type and for each instrument information on the most commonly associated HPLC systems and ion sources is shown. HPLCs are often interchangeable, ion sources less commonly so. High-resolution MS systems and ion traps are most useful for identification and characterization of compounds, while triple quadrupole MS systems are mostly used for targeted quantification. In combination with LC separation both types are suitable for analysis of complex samples. Different ionization methods are used for specific compound classes but the bulk of the analyses are performed with electrospray ionization (ESI). NanoLC and nanoESI are used for small sample amounts, primarily for proteomics applications. MALDI-TOF is suitable for fast analysis of single compounds and simple mixtures, particularly of large molecules (intact biomacromolecules and polymers).

High resolution MS

Triple quadrupole MS

Ion trap MS

MALDI-TOF MS