Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (MS) / Quadrupole Mass Analyzer

Quadrupole mass spectrometers are perhaps the simplest of mass spec instruments. Functioning effectively like a radio, the quadrupole MS – so-named because of its four charged rods, which run parallel to the flight paths of the ions it measures – filter ions by mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) by altering the voltages in the rods. Quadrupole mass spectrometers are available in a variety of formats, including a single quadrupole mass spectrometer, a triple quadrupole MS (three quadrupoles arranged in tandem), and a Q-TOF (a triple quad variant in which the third quadrupole is replaced with a time-of-flight mass analyzer).

Quadrupole mass analyzers are often used for targeted, quantitative applications and can be used either to measure one or a few given ions in a mixture, or to scan across a range of m/z values. Depending on the configuration, they can facilitate both MS and MS/MS applications. For instance, in a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer, you can select ions for analysis in the first quadrupole, fragment them by collision with a gas in the second quadrupole, and analyze the resulting fragmentation ions in the third quadrupole.

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CompanyShimadzuShimadzuShimadzuShimadzu
ItemGCMS-QP2020 NX Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS)LCMS-2020 Single Quadrupole Mass SpectrometerLCMS-2050 Mass SpectrometerLCMS-8060RX Triple Quadrupole LC/MS/MS Mass Spectrometer
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Catalog NumberGCMS-QP2020 NXLCMS-2020LCMS-2050LCMS-8060RX
Price
Ionization Method(s)EI, CI, NCIESI, APCI, Dual IonizationESI, APCI, Dual IonizationESI, APCI, Dual Ionization, Micro-ESI
Mass AnalyzerMetal quadrupole with pre-rodSingle QuadrupoleSingle QuadrupoleQ1 & Q3 are molybdenum hyperbolic mass filters with pre-rods; Q1 includes post-rods
Scanning Speed20,000 u/sec15,000 u/sec15,000 u/secMax. 30,000 u/sec (in all scan modes) (0.1 u step: 300,000 data points/sec)
Mass Range1.5 to 1090 m/zm/z 10 to 2000m/z 2 – 2000m/z 2 to 2,000
DescriptionAdopting a proprietary multi-function ion source and a new large-capacity turbomolecular pump with heightened exhaust efficiency for all carrier gases including nitrogen, the rugged, high-sensitivity GCMS-QP2020 NX elevates GCMS performance to a new level. New Quick-CI and Smart SIM functionality ... Read MoreUtilizing patented ultrafast (UF) technology, the LCMS-2020 mass spectrometer offers fast measurements and outstanding detection sensitivity for quicker and more accurate detection of trace impurities in a variety of applications.

Features
  • Ultrafast scanning speed of 15,000 u/sec, without
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The LCMS-2050 single quadrupole mass spectrometer combines the user-friendliness of an LC detector with the excellent performance of MS to provide a complete package of easy-to-use high-level performance and compactness. To make it accessible to all users, the system is enhanced with technology and ... Read MoreThe triple quad LCMS-8060RX utilizes proprietary technologies and more efficient ion transfer to achieve outstanding speed and sensitivity.
A heat-assisted electrospray ionization probe delivers a highly efficient desolvation process that promotes the ionization of a wide range of target compounds
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