The Spectro MS simultaneously measuring mass spectrometer (MS), which records the elemental mass spectrum from lithium to uranium with every analysis, was recognised at the recent Pittcon 2010 event.
Spectro Analytical Instruments received the silver Pittcon Editors' Award at Pittcon 2010, which was held in Orlando, Florida, from 28 February until 5 March.
The Spectro MS provides users with a much higher sample throughput rate and better precision and accuracy than when working with a sequential MS, according to the company.
The simultaneous recording of the entire spectrum is enabled by a series of components: an ion optic that is efficient in transporting ions from the plasma into the MS itself, while removing neutral particles and photons from the beam; a double focusing sector field MS with Mattauch-Herzog geometry; an electrostatic analyser and a permanent magnet, which are utilised to direct the ions onto a focal plane, without the additional scanning of the ion beam; and a direct charge detector with 4,800 channels, which is located in the focal plane of the MS and simultaneously records the entire mass spectrum from lithium to uranium from the continuous ion beam.
Each of these channels is divided into two separate detectors with different signal amplification.
This enables the Spectro MS to achieve a large dynamic working range with which even extreme isotope ratios can be precisely determined.
The most important application areas for the new instrument are in research-and-development laboratories with extremely high sample throughput and high demand, according to Spectro.
With its precision, sample throughput rate and permanent complete information about the entire mass spectrum with every measurement, the company expects the Spectro MS to establish itself as the benchmark system for this application area.
In addition to research laboratories, simultaneous MS is attractive for many branches of industry; environmental, chemical and pharmaceutical laboratories will benefit from the instrument's low detection limits and high sample throughput rates.
New applications can be developed with the option to simultaneously examine multiple isotope ratios even in mass ranges that lie far apart, together with the ability to transfer the precision of the isotope ratio analysis to the quantitative determination of element contents using isotope dilution.
In this way, geology laboratories can more accurately determine samples.
