Question 1

Do I need to warm/equilibrate Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometry instruments prior to starting a session of analysis?

Accepted Answer

It is advisable to turn both the LC system and the MS system on for at least 30 min prior to analysis. This time can usually be spent testing one or more solvents or matrix blanks.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mass Spectrometry Support Center.

Question 2

What assures me that the Triple Quadrupole LC-MS system is running my batch properly?

Accepted Answer

The software will show pressure traces to ensure that the pumps are working properly. Reproducible retention times and area counts for each of the internal-standard peaks ensure that the injector, LC column and mass spectrometer are working properly. Results for each calibrator must pass acceptance criteria and results for each quality control (QC) must be within acceptable limits to report sample results while being within the specified analytical range of the calibrators. They also must pass acceptance criteria for chromatographic peak integrity (actual vs expected retention time and ion ratio confirmation), to ensure reliable quantitation.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mass Spectrometry Support Center.

Question 3

I am new to LC-MS and Triple Quadrupole MS instruments and need to know how to shut down my system at the end of the day. Can you please help?

Accepted Answer

The acquisition software allows one to select to automatically have the system go to standby mode which turns the pump(s) off and the ion-source voltage and spray temperature while the ion-transfer tube temperature remains on and a low flow of nitrogen blows across its entrance. This minimizes the chances of letting contaminated ambient air entering the mass spectrometer.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Mass Spectrometry Support Center.

Question 4

What is Raman spectroscopy?

Accepted Answer

In Raman spectroscopy, an unknown sample of material is illuminated with monochromatic (single wavelength or single frequency) laser light, which can be absorbed, transmitted, reflected, or scattered by the sample. Light scattered from the sample is due to either elastic collisions of the light with the sample's molecules (Rayleigh scatter) or inelastic collisions (Raman scatter). Whereas Rayleigh scattered light has the same frequency (wavelength) of the incident laser light, Raman scattered light returns from the sample at different frequencies corresponding to the vibrational frequencies of the bonds of the molecules in the sample.

If you wish to learn more about Raman spectroscopy, visit our online Raman Spectroscopy Academy (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis/spectroscopy-elemental-isotope-analysis-learning-center/molecular-spectroscopy-information/raman-technology.html), where you will find basic Raman tutorials, advanced Raman webinars on sample applications, and a helpful instrument guide.

Question 5

Using the Beer-Lambert law in FTIR ATR for quantitative analysis of a time-sensitive, migrating substance (e.g., erucamide) in a polymer is difficult. How can this be overcome?

Accepted Answer

The Beer-Lambert law is based on stable samples and reproducible conditions. In ATR, you have two concerns. First, the sample must make contact with the crystal in a consistent manner. If the material is rough or crystalline, you must ensure reproducibility. Grinding the material to a fine powder may be necessary. Second, ATR is a surface technique, examining the sample to a depth of around 1-4 microns. If the additive or target molecule is migrating further away, you will lose the signal. In this case, transmission, which illuminates the entire sample and entire thickness, may be a viable option (depending upon thickness). In some cases, the application of pressure can change the signal due to changes in the crystallinity or orientation of polymer strands in the sample. Any deeper insights would require an understanding of the specific sample involved.

Question 6

What types of sampling cells and detectors are used for protein analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)?

Accepted Answer

One key experimental step in protein analysis is the removal of the water bands (most proteins are in buffers). This requires highly controlled path-length transmission cells or ATR. Most historical work was done in 6-10 micron path length transmission cells using BaF2 or similar windows. The analytical region is roughly between 1400 and 1750cm-1 where these windows are transmissive. Recently, ATR devices using silicon, germanium, or diamond windows have become more prevalent. Reactions or binding of proteins to the crystal can occur with ZnSe devices (due to surface charges); sometimes this is desired but often it is not. Most of the literature is based on transmission cells. Protein analysis requires skill and consistency, so training is essential for most laboratories.

Question 7

What is the advantage of DRIFTS compared to ATR technique in Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)? What is the difference?

Accepted Answer

DRIFTS is used in both mid-IR and near-IR. In the mid-IR, DRIFTS requires the sample be blended with diluents like KBr, with 3-10% sample. This is typically undesirable as the sample is now mixed. However, DRIFTS is heavily used in catalysis research where powdered material is exposed to high temperature, elevated pressures, and mixtures of reactant gases. Several accessory suppliers make devices specific for this. In the near-IR, DRIFTS is used without dilution through direct measurement - many hand-held probes exist allowing analysis through a container wall (like plastic bags) meaning the sample can be analyzed without touching or contaminating it.

ATR involves making contact with the sample by forcing it into contact with a crystal. ATR generally does not require dilution and works well with solids like credit cards or car bumpers which would be tough in DRIFTS. ATR has, for the most part, displaced DRIFTS in the mid-IR except in special cases, while DRIFTS remains a method of choice in the near-IR world.

Question 8

What are some subtleties and scenarios in inorganic applications for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)?

Accepted Answer

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) responds to a change in dipole moment, regardless of whether it is organic or inorganic. Metal oxides, carbonates, and carbonyls are good examples. The basic equation states that the wavenumber is proportional to the square root of the spring constant (bond strength) and one over the square root of the reduced mass. Simply put, as mass of the atoms involved in the bond goes up, the wavenumber goes down. Many inorganics have peaks below 400cm-1, such as ferrocene, acetylferrocene and cadmium oxide. This necessitates the use of “far-IR” optics. Many forensics users have found far-IR useful in identifying paint chips, due to their inorganic content. There are several ATR accessories that now permit far-IR ATR (mostly monolithic diamond devices). The Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 FTIR Spectrometer was designed to make far-IR performance trivial with a built-in ATR as well. Ultimately, if you have further interest in this area, you need to speak with an FTIR sales person to understand the capabilities and limitations.

Question 9

How can Infrared (IR) be used quantitatively in spectroscopy? Do I have to build a calibration curve?

Accepted Answer

Quantitative work requires one of two approaches. First, you may know or can calculate the absorptivitiy (the epsilon in Beer's Law). This is exceedingly rare. Much more commonly, you can develop a set of training / calibration standards and record spectra. You can then either use a chemometrics package like Thermo Scientific TQ Analyst software to automate the analysis using Beer's Law or more complex modeling, or you can record basic information (peak height or peak area) in a spreadsheet and then use linear (or non-linear) regression. It is generally the same idea as done for chromatography or atomic spectroscopy.

Question 10

What effects does apodization have on signal/noise and peak width?

Accepted Answer

Apodization can increase from light (like Happ-Genzel) to heavy (like Blackman-Harris). The heavier the function, the more effect you will see on lineshape. For most normal uses, when the resolution is 4 wavenumbers or more, even heavy apodization does not distort spectra badly. However, as the lines narrow, as in gas-phase spectroscopy, the effect of apodization can be profound. Strong apodization in broad peaks improves the signal to noise ratio over Boxcar (essentially no apodization) by a lot with minimal effect on linewidth. Happ-Genzel was the original OMNIC default (and still often is) due to its “gentle” effect on linewidth coupled with decent signal to noise ratio. Generally, signal to noise ratio improves in the order Happ-Genzel, Norton-Beer-Weak, Norton-Beer-Medium, Norton-Beer-Strong, Blackman-Harris, while lineshapes are also affected more in the same order.

Question 11

Is apodization a pre-analysis setting or can it be modified and applied to raw data after analysis?

Accepted Answer

Apodization works on the interferogram. If you have that raw data, which Thermo Scientific OMNIC software can do by setting a single check box, then post-processing by changing apodization is trivial. The interferogram typically requires a lot more memory than the Fourier transformed spectra, so older software packages used to throw away the interferogram to save memory. In cases where the interferogram is not present, you can't reprocess as apodization is a time domain function.

Question 12

When is it appropriate to use transmittance vs. absorbance for presenting spectra?

Accepted Answer

Presenting spectra as transmittance tends to emphasize the smaller peaks, so you can sometimes visually assess your sample better. Absorbance spectra are used for any quantitative analysis, spectral subtractions or other manipulations as the spectra are linear with concentration whereas transmittance spectra are not. For searching or more general use, it is really more of a personal preference. Older literature tended to use transmittance most often, while detailed peak analysis always moved to absorbance, again because of the linearity feature.

常见问题