What are the differences between mass specs?

[Graeme Beattie]

Hello

I was wondering what the differences were between time of flight, quadrupole, and sector mass spectrometers? I know that they use different processes to separate the ions but what are the advantages and disadvatages to using one over the other.

[MoverZ]

To understand the strengths of each, it's important to understand how each type works.

I really can't do a better job of explaining than this site does: masspec.scripps.edu/mshistory/whatisms_toc.php Just click on the Mass Analyzers link, and get comfortable. There is a ton of info here, and these guys are very knowledgeable.

Forgive any small molecule bias I have but here is the short story: TOF is good at determining mass more precisely, Triple quadrupoles are good for quantitation, Ion traps are good for structure/metabolite ID using. I'm not sure that magnetic sector ms is used much these days.