Portable linear ion trap mass spectrometer with compact multistage vacuum system and continuous atmospheric pressure...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Instrument Development
• Mass Spectrometry

Background:

• Portable mass spectrometers are crucial for on-site chemical analysis.
• Existing instruments often face limitations in size, vacuum systems, or analytical performance.
• There is a need for compact, high-performance mass spectrometers for field applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a portable linear ion trap mass spectrometer.
• To evaluate its analytical performance, including mass resolution, scan rate, and detection limits.
• To assess its suitability for various on-site analytical applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a compact instrument with a three-stage vacuum system and continuous atmospheric pressure interface (CAPI).
• Characterization of the vacuum system's pressure reduction capabilities.
• Evaluation of analytical performance using nano-electrospray ionization and reserpine standards.
• Testing of tandem mass spectrometry (MS3) capabilities and measurement repeatability.

Main Results:

• The portable mass spectrometer has dimensions of 38 × 26 × 23 cm³ and weighs approximately 20 kg.
• Achieved a mass resolution of up to 4060 (m/Δm, FWHM) at m/z 609 and unit mass resolution at 6000 Da s⁻¹.
• Demonstrated a limit of detection of 5 ng mL⁻¹, successful MS3 performance, and high repeatability (RSD < 6%).

Conclusions:

• The developed portable linear ion trap mass spectrometer is a compact and high-performance instrument.
• Its capabilities make it suitable for a wide range of on-site analyses, including food safety, drug analysis, environmental monitoring, forensics, and homeland security.
• The instrument shows significant potential for practical field applications requiring rapid and reliable chemical analysis.