Gas Phase Mobility Selection of Ions Prior to Mass Spectrometric Analysis

Abstract

Traditionally, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has been used for the analysis of gas phase compounds, however, with the advent of electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) the technique's scope of analysis has greatly expanded. The powerful prospects of combining IMS and ion mobility mass spectrometry (IMMS) to yield instruments capable of distinguishing ions based upon both size and mass to charge ratios has led to a large body of work directed at the development of IMMS instruments. While many low pressure (1-100 Torr) IMMS systems have been realized, only a limited number of high pressure systems have been developed. Moreover, those which have been described suffer from limitations in the fragmentation information available from such systems.

WSU researchers have developed an approach to selectively filter and subsequently analyze ion pulses originating from an atmospheric pressure IMS system. These developments enable multiple applications such as IMS-QITMS, IMS-FTMS, IMS-FAIMS and IMS-FAIMS-MS .

Applications and Advantages

§ many prototype instruments are developed

§ allows for nD analysis of low abundance species

§ sensitive

§ adaptable

IP Status

US patent no. 7,560,688