Research Tool, Industrial Problem Solver or Both? Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (FT/MS^®) is widely known by almost all mass spectrometrists as a basic research tool, presumably because of the many research publications in the literature. But can it and has it been used for problem-solving, product development, and technical support applications in industry?

Today, FT/MS^® is playing an ever increasing role in industry and the life sciences, especially with respect to the analysis of macromolecules. The advantages of FT/MS and how these advantages apply to industrial problem solving will be discussed with emphasis on the features of high resolving power, accurate mass measurement, and multistage mass spectrometry.

Today, the overwhelming scientific interest for FT/MS is in its application to the life sciences, especially for peptide and protein characterization. New ionization methods for biomolecules, namely matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and electrospray ionization (ESI) are not only compatible with, but they are extremely powerful when combined with FT/MS. And ESI serves as an interface between liquid chromatography and FT/MS, two unlikely partners. Some recent examples illustrating MALDI, ESI, and LC/ESI will be presented to illustrate the imminent applications of FT/MS in the life sciences.