Description

Waters Micromass ZQ Mass Spectrometer MS/MS. The ZQ Detector is a quadrupole mass analyzer that can determine the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of diverse analytes. An HPLC system, delivers liquid sample to the instrument’s analyzer source. There the sample molecules ionize by means of one of two ionization modes: electrospray (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). In ESI mode, sample molecules ionize in solution before they reach the source. On entering the evacuated source, they begin a desolvation process. In APCI mode, an electrical discharge inside the source ionizes the sample molecules whereupon they undergo desolvation. The ions ultimately reach the quadrupole, which separates them according to their mass-to-charge ratios. A photo multiplier then detects the mass separated ions, amplifies their signals, and sends the mass information o the data system