5.6 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer for analysis of volatile complex mixtuues

An all-glass healed inlet coupled to a homebuilt 5.6 T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer generates stable mass spectra from a volatile mixture for 2 h from as little as 1 mu L of injected sample. A dynamic range of similar to 500 and ultrahigh mass resolving power, m/Delta m(50%)approximate to 320 000, are shown for a series of test compounds. A raw diesel fuel sample (with hundreds of components over a wide boiling point range) mass spectrum gave similar to 500 resolved peaks over a range, 90 less than or equal to m/z<300, from which molecular formulas could be assigned from accurate (less than or equal to+/-0.8 ppm) mass measurements. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(98)04406-2].