Thermo Finnigan LTQ - Introduction

_______________________ Finnigan LTQ Hardware Manual ______________________ 1-1
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Chapter 1
Introduction
The LTQ™ is a member of the Finnigan™ family of mass spectrometer (MS)
detectors. The Finnigan LTQ is an advanced analytical instrument that
includes a syringe pump, a divert/inject valve, an MS detector, and the
Xcalibur
®
data system. In a typical analysis, a sample can be introduced in
any of the following ways:
• Using the syringe pump (direct infusion)
• Using the divert/inject valve fitted with a sample loop and LC (flow
injection analysis)
• Using the divert/inject valve and HPLC fitted with a column (LC/MS)
In analysis by LC/MS, a sample is injected onto an LC column. The sample is
then separated into its various components. The components elute from the
LC column and pass into the MS detector where they are analyzed. Analysis
by direct infusion or flow injection provides no chromatographic separation
of components in the sample before it passes into the MS detector. The data
from the MS detector are then stored and processed by the data system.
Figure 1-1. Finnigan LTQ system