Thermo: Appetite is growing for HRAM GC-MS

Enhancements to the Q Exactive GC Orbitrap and the Exactive GC Orbitrap include addition of Variable electron Voltage (VeV) technology, the Orbitrap GC-MS HRAM Metabolomics Library and TraceFinder Automated Compound Identification.

These capabilities provide sensitive, selective and accurate compound identification of complex samples for research and routine labs performing gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Orbitrap a ‘step forward in HRAM GC-MS capability’​

Paul Silcock, senior product marketing manager, GC-GC/MS, chromatography and mass spectrometry at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said the appetite is growing for high resolution accurate mass (HRAM) GC-MS.

“The introduction of Orbitrap was a huge step forward in HRAM GC-MS capability for the analytical community and now that GC has joined LC on the Orbitrap platform, the conditions are perfect for widespread adoption, even now in some routine laboratories who want to broaden their analytical scope,” ​he told FoodQualityNews.​

“High-selectivity - full scan analysis with high sensitivity and robust quantitative performance altogether is a game-changer.​

“Systems utilising HRAM non-targeted acquisition (full scan) typically produce a lot of information rich data in contrast to targeted approaches. This data needs to be mined in a meaningful way for the user by quickly highlighting the most important and significant information, from which knowledge can be gained.”​

The Q Exactive GC​

The Q Exactive GC is designed to meet the needs of research scientists and the Exactive GC is for more routine use. The systems were launched two years ago.

Improvements are available to all new and existing users of the technology, subject to appropriate software licenses. System owners can choose if they want to take advantage for their laboratory.

Thermo Fisher said the systems give users across metabolomics, food safety, environmental, pharma and toxicology applications data accuracy.

The Q Exactive GC provides GC-MS performance for deep characterization of samples and data for compound discovery, identification and quantitation.

The system offers resolving power up to 120,000 @ m/z 200, <1 ppm (typical) mass accuracy, ppt level sensitivity and >6 orders linear dynamic range which is critical for quantitation and accurate sample profiling.

It is capable of performing MS/MS analysis through the use of the quadrupole and HCD collision cell, to help identify unknown-unknown compounds.

The Exactive GC​

Exactive GC is for sample profiling, screening and quantitation workflows and delivers routine grade performance in targeted and non-targeted screening protocols.

The system offers resolving power up to 60,000 @ m/z 200, <1 ppm (typical) mass accuracy, ppt level sensitivity and >6 orders linear dynamic range.

High selectivity quantitation can be done to the level of triple quadrupoles, but in contrast to a triple-quad, offers benefits of a non-targeted acquisition in analytical scope, easy method set-up and maintenance and retrospective data analysis.

For a typical GC run time to result is 30 minutes with high selectivity and speed of the analyser allowing an opportunity to compress analytical runs further.

Silcock said Orbitrap technology has been widely adopted within the food industry from regulators, contract testing organizations to manufacturers. 

“This began with the LC Q Exactive instruments and adoption continues to accelerate,” ​he said.  ​

“For GC Orbitrap, the same is true, and this technology is quickly being picked up across the industry with the main applications including contaminants (such as persistent organic pollutants and pesticide residues), food contact materials and food integrity.”​