Comparison of quadrupole, time-of-flight, and Fourier transform mass analyzers for LC-MS applications

The authors investigated the analytical capabilities of quadrupole, time-of -flight, and Fourier transform mass analyzers for liquid chromatography ele ctrospray mass spectrometry (LC-MS) applications. They studied instrument p arameters - such as sensitivity, mass range, and mass resolution - and issu es related to sample preparation and separation for the characterization of low molecular weight compounds in complex environmental matrices. In this article, the authors discuss the effect of sample preparation on the perfor mance of LC-MS analytical methods.