Parallel ion mass and ion mobility analysis
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a parallel IMS and MS measurement method where a sample flow is split and delivered to an IMS and a MS in parallel. A parallel acquisition MS/IMS method is used to supplement LC-MS and or MS data by using a synchronized MS/IMS acquisition.
1. A method for identifying components of a sample in mass spectral data comprising:
a. splitting a sample flow into a mass analyzer and an ion mobility based separator for independent parallel ion mass and ion mobility analysis;
b. acquiring mass spectral data of the sample using the mass analyzer while synchronously acquiring ion mobility data using the ion mobility based separator;
c. performing a normalization between corresponding peaks of the mass spectral data and that of the peaks in the ion mobility data; and
d. displaying which ion mobility peaks correspond to the mass spectra peaks.
2. The method in claim 1 , wherein the normalization is accomplished by using a timing index and/or a calibrant.
3. The method in claim 2 , wherein the timing index is created based on the timing of each flow component's arrival at one or more analytical instrument.
4. The method in claim 3 , wherein the analytical instrument can be, but not limited to: IMS, MS, conductivity detector, UV detector, diode-array or a detector.
5. The method in claim 2 , further comprises a LC separation prior to splitting the sample flow into the mass analyzer and the ion mobility based separator.
6. The method in claim 2 , wherein the timing index is created based on the components of the sample's chromatography properties whereby the resolution obtained using the LC separation is used as a reference to determine the timing index resolution.
7. The method in claim 2 , wherein the calibrant is added to the sample flow or as one of the components of the sample.
8. The method in claim 1 , wherein the sample flow comprises isomers.
9. The method in claim 8 , wherein the isomers are constitutional isomers.
10. The method in claim 9 , wherein the constitutional isomers are skeletal isomers.
11. The method in claim 9 , wherein the constitutional isomers are regioisomers.
12. The method in claim 9 , wherein the constitutional isomers are functional group isomers.
13. The method in claim 9 , wherein the constitutional isomers are topoisomers.
14. The method in claim 8 , wherein the isomers are stereoisomers.
15. The method in claim 14 , wherein the stereoisomers are diastereomers.
16. The method in claim 14 , wherein the stereoisomers are enantiomers.
17. The method in claim 14 , wherein the stereoisomers are cis-trans isomers.
18. The method in claim 14 , wherein the stereoisomers are conformers.
19. The method in claim 14 , wherein the stereoisomers are rotamers.
20. The method in claim 14 , wherein the stereoisomers are atropisomers.