User guide

DuoSpray™ Ion Source User Reference
AB SCIEX TripleTOF
®
5600/5600+ Instruments
84 of 116
System User Guide
D5033331 A
Probes
Choose the probe and method most suitable for the compound in the sample stream flow.
The TurboIonSpray probe produces ions through ion evaporation. The APCI probe vaporizes the
sample before inducing ionization through atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. This
process is induced by a corona discharge needle as the ions pass through the ion source
housing to the interface region.
All of the data acquired using the ion source is identified with an abbreviation representing the
probe used to acquire the data (TIS for the TurboIonSpray probe, HN for the APCI probe).
TurboIonSpray Probe
The TurboIonSpray probe is suited for LC/MS/MS analyses. The sensitivity that is achieved with
this technique is dependent on both flow rate and analyte. At higher flow rates, ionization
efficiency increases, resulting in improved sensitivity. Compounds with extremely high polarity
and low surface activity usually show the greatest sensitivity increases. The TurboIonSpray
technique is mild enough to be used with labile compounds, such as peptides, proteins, and
thermally labile pharmaceuticals.
When the heater is turned off, the TurboIonSpray probe functions as a conventional IonSpray™
ion source. It also functions with flow rates from 5 µL/min to 3000 µL/min and it vaporizes 100%
aqueous to 100% organic solvents.
4 Y-axis adjustment knob for the APCI probe, used to position the probe on the vertical
axis for ion source sensitivity adjustments
5 Corona discharge needle, which ionizes the trace species, or sample gas. Primary ions,
which are formed as a result of the discharge, are converted by collisional processes to
final ion-molecule reaction products.
6 Turbo heater
7 X-axis adjustment knob for the TurboIonSpray
probe, used to position the probe on the
horizontal axis for ion source sensitivity adjustments
8 Y-axis adjustment knob for the TurboIonSpray probe, used to position the probe on the
vertical axis for ion source sensitivity adjustments
9 TurboIonSpray probe
Table 7-1 Specifications of the Ion Source
Parameter
TurboIonSpray
probe
APCI probe
Ion source temperature
range
Probe temperature from ambient
temperature to 750°C, depending on
liquid flow
Probe temperature from
50°C to 750°C,
depending on liquid flow
Liquid chromatography Interfaces to any liquid chromatography system
Nebulizer gas (Gas 1)
Heater gas (Gas 2)
Refer to the Site Planning Guide for the mass spectrometer.
Figure 7-1 Parts of the ion source (Continued)
Item Description