Advances in LC–MS Mass Analyzers: A Comprehensive Review of Quadrupole, TOF, Orbitrap, and Emerging Hybrid Platforms
Abstract
Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) has become a pillar technology in the field of analytical sciences, fuelled by ongoing improvements in mass spectrometer design and performance. The history of LC–MS instrument evolution is reviewed here, highlighting the shift from conventional quadrupole-based instruments to state-of-the-art high-resolution devices like time-of-flight (TOF) and Orbitrap analyzers. This review discusses how these technologies have enhanced analytical performance in terms of sensitivity, mass accuracy, dynamic range, and throughput. Quadrupole devices, with their ruggedness and quantitative accuracy, formed the bedrock for regular analyses, whereas TOF and Orbitrap technologies have made deeper qualitative assessments possible through high-resolution accurate-mass (HRAM) determinations. The combination of hybrid systems e.g., Q-TOF and Q-Orbitrap y and data collection strategies has further broadened the utility of LC–MS applications in areas from proteomics and metabolomics to environmental and clinical studies. This review points out the major technological advancements in mass analyzers.
Keywords:
LC-MS, MR-TOF, Quadrupole, Orbitrap, FT-ICR, ReTOFDOI
https://doi.org/10.25004/References
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