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Orbitrap LC-MS
Orbitrap mass spectrometers offer the highest levels of accuracy and precision
Benefit from the high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) performance advantages offered by our unique Orbitrap mass analyzers. Orbitrap systems connect to liquid chromatography equipment to enhance separation of unknown and known compounds and enable high-throughput workflows.
Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a wide portfolio of Orbitrap-based MS systems, including systems combined with ion traps and quadrupole mass filters, to address all your analysis needs.
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Which Orbitrap mass spectrometer is right for my lab?
We offer systems ranging from the Thermo Scientific Q Exactive MS and Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MS to the Thermo Sceintific Orbitrap Eclipse Tribrid MS. Some of these Orbitrap systems not only feature a top resolution of 1,000,000 FWHM at m/z 200 but also achieve scan rates of 45 Hz.
Which instrument best fits your laboratory's needs? Click on each system to learn more.
Learn more about each Orbitrap MS system
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| Next Generation advanced high-resolution accurate-mass Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometers are synonymous with record-setting performance. The power of built-in intelligence, sensitivity and selectivity delivers depth of analysis, to the lowest levels with, high quantitative accuracy and precision. This extraordinary power is now available in an expanded portfolio to meet your exact analytical requirements in proteomics, metabolomics, biopharma characterization and ID, translational and clinical research, forensic toxicology, and environmental and food testing. | Wide performance range of high-resolution accurate-mass Quadrupole-Orbitrap MS systems ideal for targeted screening to high-throughput analysis of low-level components in complex matrices applications in biopharma for intact and native proteins, bioanalysis, forensic toxicology, clinical and translational research, environmental and food testing, metabolomics, everyday proteomics and structural biology. | For discovering, profiling and quantification of small and large molecules with versatility, selectivity, sensitivity and speed to extend limits of detection, characterization and quantitation to a broad range of applications in metabolomics, drug development, extractables and leachables, industrial environmental, multi-omics, TMT, proteomics. |
Common applications using Orbitrap HRAM technology
Due to its HRAM capabilities, the Orbitrap is often the mass analyzer of choice for elucidating novel, untargeted compounds at sub-ppb concentrations and/or sub-ppm mass differences. The Orbitrap is frequently used in research applications to elucidate low-abundance, high complexity, or otherwise difficult samples, including those collected in proteomics, lipidomics, clinical research and forensic toxicology, food and beverage, and environmental laboratories. This is because high resolving power can make the difference between detecting and not detecting low concentration analytes (due to the masking effect of isobaric interferences).
What is Orbitrap?
The Orbitrap is an ion trap mass analyzer that consists of two outer electrodes and a central electrode, which enable it to act as both an analyzer and detector. Ions entering the Orbitrap are captured through "electrodynamic squeezing," after which they oscillate around the central electrode and in between the two outer electrodes. Different ions oscillate at different frequencies, resulting in their separation. By measuring the oscillation frequencies induced by ions on the outer electrodes, the mass spectra of the ions are acquired using image current detection. Due to its setup, the Orbitrap mass analyzer is actually a Fourier Transform mass analyzer analog of FT-ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) technology, yet with smaller instrument size and easier instrument operation.
Why use Orbitrap MS in your lab?
Orbitrap mass spectrometers deliver a total possible maximum resolution (FWHM) of 1,000,000 at m/z 200 and a sub-1 ppm mass accuracy in a single compact and easy-to-use instrument. These high-resolution accurate-mass systems detect a wide range of compounds and small molecules during both targeted and untargeted analyses, without losing selectivity or sensitivity. Simply put, when it comes to Orbitrap technology, there is no compromise.
Figure 1. The different resolution achievements of Orbitrap instruments compared to Q-TOF mass spectrometers.
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Click image to enlarge
Figure 2. Orbitrap mass accuracy signal strength as a function of ion quantity compared to Q-TOF mass spectrometers.
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Click image to enlarge
Assumptions:
- Q-TOF: resolving power 40,000, transmission 4% (grids x duty cycle x angular scattering on grids)
- Orbitrap transmission: 50%
Key benefits of Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Unparalleled sensitivity, resolution, and accuracy
Orbitrap technology drives high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) data, generating incredibly high resolution measurements of up to 500,000 FWHM (with the option of achieving up to 1,000,000 FWHM) at m/z 200. This distinguishing feature, which is unique to the Orbitrap analyzer, is made possible by three factors:
- Nanometer-range accuracy electrodes.
- High voltage supplies.
- Mass-to-charge measurements delivered as a function of oscillation frequency.
Due to the superior resolving capabilities of Orbitrap technology, accurate mass assignment is easily achieved, with sub-1-ppm mass accuracy typical of injected analytes.
Unprecedented qual/quan analysis means high selectivity and sensitivity
Because Orbitrap technology provides quantitative and qualitative (quan/qual) HRAM analytical capability in a single platform and often in a single run, it has been increasingly applied towards a range of challenging applications requiring high selectivity and sensitivity.
When the instrument generates full-scan HRAM data during untargeted analysis, easy identification of novel compounds and retrospective data analysis are accomplished without the need to re-run samples. During targeted analysis scans, the instrument confidently achieves confirmation and identification of residual small and large molecules.
What about Q-TOF systems?
While TOF MS systems are capable of fast full-scan data acquisition, they have limitations. For example, Q-TOFs are limited in their resolution at the small molecule mass range. This can result in false identification (false negatives and false positives) of an analyte and the inability to quantitate the analytes of interest [1].
The latest hybrid Orbitrap systems, such as the Orbitrap Exploris 480 and Orbitrap Exploris 240 mass spectrometers, provide high mass resolution and accuracy over a wide mass range—including the small molecule mass range.
With Orbitrap technology, true high mass resolution and mass accuracy are delivered by one compact and easy-to-use instrument that can reliably and routinely deliver sub-ppb sensitivity and sub-ppm mass accuracy [2].
References
- Rajski Ł, Gómez-Ramos Mdel M, Fernández-Alba AR (2014) Large pesticide multiresidue screening method by liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry in full scan mode applied to fruit and vegetables J Chromatog A 1360: 119-127. Science Direct
- Eliuk S, Makarov A (2015) Evolution of Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation Ann Rev Anal Chem 8: 61-80. Annual Reviews
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Featured Orbitrap MS webinars
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Top 5 reasons to upgrade to a Tribrid mass spectrometer
An essential tool for high-end life science research, Orbitrap Tribrid mass spectrometers are robustly designed, and they come equipped with a quadrupole mass filter as well as an Orbitrap and linear ion trap mass analyzer. This hardware combination (exclusive to Orbitrap-based mass spectrometers) provides superior analytical performance that enables multiple complex modes of analysis.
Q Exactive Series Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer for Metabolomics
This white paper addresses the technical and workflow benefits of the Thermo Scientific Q Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap family of mass spectrometers with conclusive arguments to justify this range of MS systems as the ideal instruments of choice for Metabolomics applications.
Look inside the novel Orbitrap IQ-X Tribrid mass spectrometer.
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