LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROSCOPY (LC-MS/MS)
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the mass separation capabilities of liquid chromatography (HPLC) mass spectrometry (MS) with the physical separation capabilities. Matched chromatography - MS systems are popular in chemical analysis because the individual capabilities of each technique are synergistically developed. Liquid chromatography separates the mixtures with multiple components, while mass spectrometry provides the structural identity of the individual components with high molecular specificity and detection sensitivity. The analytes separated from the LC unit are ionized and sent to the MS/MS unit. In the MS/MS unit, the ions are diverted from the first quadropole at the mass/charge (m/z) ratios and directed to the interference cell known as collision cell. Molecules collided with high purity nitrogen gas are disintegrated into the second quadropole. These second ions in the second quadropole unit are also mass-determined by mass/charge (m/z) ratios. While there may be many molecules with the same m/z ratio, the ratio of molecules with the same fragmentation ions is 1/10000. This tandem technique is preferred for precise analysis of biochemical, organic and inorganic compounds commonly found in complex samples of environmental and biological origin. Therefore, LC-MS/MS can be applied in a wide variety of sectors such as biotechnology, environmental monitoring, food processing and pharmaceutical, pesticide and cosmetics industries.
LC-MS/MS allows the analytes to be analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. In the analysis of single or multiple analytes in complex environments, in the analysis of trace materials, in the analysis of impurities and metabolites as well as in the analysis of additives and pesticides in foods, analysis of biological samples such as blood, urine, tissue can be obtained with high precision and accuracy.
LC-MS/MS is one of the most sensitive methods for the determination of trace amounts of analytes in the sample as well as multiple analyte assays. It gives information about the amount, structure and molecular weight of the components in the sample. From small pharmaceutical compounds to the determination of large proteins, polar ionic, thermal unstable and non-volatile compounds have a wide range of use, such as analysis.
The present LC-MS/MS system consists of a mass spectrometer (MS/MS) consisting of a 1000 bar pressure operated liquid chromatography (LC) unit and a triple quadrupole system. The system includes ESI, electrospray ionization and APCI, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion sources, and thus a wider scale of analysis.
Device: Thermo TSQ Quantis LC-MS/MS
Scope of application:
- Drug metabolites analysis,
- Forensic Medicine analysis,
- Newborn screening in medicine,
- Veterinary drug residue analysis,
- Food pesticide analysis,
- Residue and pollution determination in water.
