Improvements in LC/Electrospray Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry Performance Using an Off-Axis Nebulizer

Charged residues from the electrospray process have been hypothesized to limit the sensitivity and dynamic range of an ion trap mass spectrometry operation. Incorporation of an off-axis nebulizer (positioned 90-95° from the sampling orifice) was found to drastically reduce the detrimental effects caused by the charged particles or droplets compared to typical on-axis nebulization configurations (spraying 10-20° from sampling orifices). The off-axis nebulizer reduced total ion currents that enter the ion trap (through the reduction of charged residues) by a factor of 5-7 while resulting in an increase of analyte [M + H](+) signal by a factor of 6 compared to an on-axis sprayer at flow rates of 20 μL/min. At higher flow rates (e.g., 800 μL/min) these enhancements are more evident. At flows greater than 200 μL/min, off-axis nebulization reduced total ion current that enters the ion trap by a factor of 30 and resulted in a factor of more than 20 increase in [M + H](+) signal relative to on-axis nebulization. Incorporation of the off-axis nebulizer improved the detection limit and precision for determination of dihydroxyvitamin D(3) in plasma compared to on-axis nebulization. The LC/MS/MS detection limits obtained for the off-axis nebulizer on the ion trap was within a factor of 2 from the detection limit determined by the triple quadrupole. The relative standard deviation of the dihydroxyvitamin D(3) determination was less than 8% for both off-axis ion trap and triple-quadrupole determinations.