TuP-19

TuP-19

FTMS IN AN APPLICATIONS LAB 12 MONTHS ON

Richard H. Willis

Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No. 3, Townsville, Qld 4811

With tangible trepidation and great expectations, the decision was made to purchase a Bruker BioApex 47e Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer to satisfy the diverse MS requirements of the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the North Queensland region. The instrument was installed during early 1996. We are now in a position to assess the wisdom of the selection of the FTMS over the more traditional magnetic sector instruments.

Although the instrument is equipped with a variety of ion sources (MALDI, APCI, SIMS, EI/CI), only the ESI source has been used to date, and data will be presented from this source exclusively. As yet, no samples have defied analysis using the ESI source.

Issues to be considered include ease of use, reliability, resolution, mass accuracy, and tandem MS. Results from a variety of investigations are presented and conclusions drawn on the practicability of FTMS in a non-specialist applications laboratory.