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Related Concept Videos

Mass Analyzers: Common Types01:19

Mass Analyzers: Common Types

The quadrupole mass analyzer consists of four cylindrical metal rods arranged in a diamond carrying a DC voltage and a radio-frequency AC voltage. The motion of ions through the quadrupole depends on the field strength, causing only ions of a certain m/z to resonate successfully and strike the detector at a given field strength. Though the transmission rate for these analyzers is high, the exact elemental composition of the sample is not determined because of low resolution; however, they are...
Mass Analyzers: Overview01:13

Mass Analyzers: Overview

The mass analyzer is a crucial component of the mass spectrometer. In the ionization chamber, the vaporized sample is bombarded with a high-energy electron beam to generate a radical cation and further fragment into neutral molecules, radicals, and cations. A series of negatively charged accelerator plates accelerate the cations into the mass analyzer. The mass analyzer separates ions according to their mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios and then directs them to the detector. The common types of mass...
Mass Spectrometers01:16

Mass Spectrometers

This lesson details the instrumentation of a mass spectrometer—a physical instrument to perform mass spectrometry on analyte molecules and record the characteristic mass spectra. This is achieved via three chief functions:
Tandem Mass Spectrometry01:21

Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry is a technique that uses multiple mass analyzers in series to obtain a higher selectivity and reduce chemical noise during analyte detection. Instruments with multiple analyzers separated by an interaction cell enable secondary fragmentation and selected study of the fragment ions.Secondary fragmentations occur in the interaction cell and can be induced by various factors. Fragmentation induced by collision with inert gases, such as N2, Ar, He, etc., is called...
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis01:21

Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis

Mass spectrometry is an important technique for the identification of pure compounds. However, it has some limitations for the analysis of complex mixtures, often due to excessive fragmentation making the spectrum too complicated to decipher. Mass spectrometry can be combined with suitable separation methods in sequence, forming hyphenated methods, which are useful in the analysis of complex mixtures.
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview01:19

Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview

In inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch is used as an atomizer and ionizer. Solid samples are dissolved and volatilized before being introduced into the high-temperature argon plasma, while solution samples are nebulized and passed through the high-temperature argon plasma. Plasma dissociates the analytes and ionizes their component atoms to form a mixture of positive ions and molecular species. The positive ions are then passed on to...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions
15:00

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions

Published on: June 14, 2016

Miniature mass spectrometer systems based on a microengineered quadrupole filter.

Andrew Malcolm1, Steven Wright, Richard R A Syms

  • 1Microsaic Systems Ltd., Woking, Surrey, UK.

Analytical Chemistry
|January 30, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Two novel miniature mass spectrometer systems were developed using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). These compact and portable instruments offer rapid analysis and are suitable for laboratory and field applications, including environmental monitoring.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions
15:00

Applications of the Single-probe: Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Single Cell Analysis under Ambient Conditions

Published on: June 14, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Instrument Development
  • Microtechnology

Background:

  • Miniaturization of analytical instruments is crucial for expanding their accessibility and application scope.
  • Traditional mass spectrometers are often large, expensive, and not easily deployable in the field.
  • Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) offer a pathway to create smaller, more robust analytical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop two miniature mass spectrometer systems utilizing microengineered quadrupole mass filters.
  • To create a compact laboratory instrument and a portable, battery-powered field instrument.
  • To demonstrate the feasibility of MEMS fabrication for mass spectrometer analyzers.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of quadrupole mass filters using bonded silicon on insulator substrates and batch processing techniques.
  • Assembly of filters with ion source and detector into interchangeable cartridges for a small vacuum chamber.
  • Development of a portable, battery-powered unit weighing 14.9 kg housed in a rugged case.
  • Application testing using solid phase microextraction (SPME) for environmental monitoring of dibutyl mercaptan in water.

Main Results:

  • Developed a 27 cm x 20 cm laboratory system and a portable field system.
  • Achieved rapid servicing (5-10 min) through easily exchangeable cartridges.
  • Demonstrated a limit of detection of approximately 5 ppm for dibutyl mercaptan with a 15 s sampling period.
  • Successfully incorporated a MEMS-fabricated analyzer into a portable mass spectrometer.

Conclusions:

  • The developed miniature mass spectrometers are suitable for both laboratory and field use.
  • MEMS technology enables the creation of compact, portable, and field-deployable mass spectrometers.
  • The systems show potential for environmental monitoring applications with sensitive detection capabilities.