Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR MS)
Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR MS) is a type of mass spectrometry that is used to identify and characterize molecules. We have already looked at a lot of different mass spectrometry techniques on the channel, (link to the playlist by the end) but this is by far the mass analyzer with the highest resolution. But before I explain why, let us quickly look at the different parts of mass spectrometry so you better understand how FTICR fits in.
So mass spectrometry generally consists of an ion source, a mass analyzer, and some type of detector and displays its results in a mass chromatogram like this. If you want to understand mass spectrometry better, I recommend you check out this video. FTICR is a type of mass analyzer and to explain how it works, it might help if you think of a magnetic sector mass spectrometer. If you remember in a magnetic sector mass spectrometer, the ion gets curved along its flight path due to a magnetic force. How much the ion curves depends on the magnetic field strength and more importantly the SIZE of the ion. The relationship is displayed in this formula but intuitively you can think of a small boat and a large ship. The amount of energy required to turn the large ship will be much, much greater compared to the small boat.
Here is a simplified explanation of the FTICR process:
1. A sample is introduced into the mass spectrometer and ionized, typically using electrospray ionization, which simply turns the sample into gas phase ions. Electrospray ionization is something I discuss in greater detail in this video.
2. The ions are trapped in a magnetic field and excited by an RF or radio frequency field.
3. The vibrational frequencies of the ions are dependent on the size of the ions and are measured using these two detectors.
4. The data is collected and analyzed using Fourier transform algorithms, which convert the vibrational frequencies into a mass spectrum that shows the relative abundance of ions at different masses.
The reason why FTICR achieves such a high resolution is that every revolution or in other words each time the ion completes a spin in the device, we get another point of measurement. The result is that FTICR mass spectrometry can achieve a resolution above 2 000 000.
And there you have a simplified explanation of Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Now all, the videos mentioned in this video, can be found in the playlist displayed on the screen now! So in case there was anything that felt unclear or that you want to understand better, please check it out! UNTIL NEXT TIME!
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