COURSE OVERVIEW
Who is this course for?
Users of LC-MS and LC-MS-MS equipment, or anyone interested in learning the analytical capabilities afforded by this type of instrument.
Previous Knowledge
No previous knowledge of mass spectrometry is necessary, but an understanding of the fundamentals of liquid chromatography is beneficial.
What you will learn
- How modern API designs work and which one best fits your LC and application requirements
- How ions are produced and how to optimise LC mobile phase and interface parameters to achieve the highest sensitivity, accuracy and reproducibility
- The anatomy and working principles of quadrupoles, ion traps, time-of-flight detectors and more
- The information that can be acquired in MS, MS-MS and MSn modes, and how to optimise instrument settings for high data quality
COURSE OUTLINE
LC-MS Data Acquisition & Optimization
- Data acquisition settings: resolution, scan types, ion polarity
- Full-scan vs. targeted acquisition
- Sensitivity and detection limits
Advanced Ionization & Fragmentation Techniques
- Collision-induced dissociation (CID) vs. higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD)
- Precursor ion scanning
- Constant neutral loss scanning
- Data-dependent acquisition (DDA) vs. data-independent acquisition (DIA) vs MSe
Signal Optimization & Noise Reduction
- Improving signal-to-noise ratio
- Minimizing background noise
- Addressing multiple charging, adducts, and matrix effects
LC-MS Spectral Interpretation & Structural Elucidation
- Basics of mass spectra interpretation
- Identifying molecular ions vs. fragment ions
- Adducts, isotopes, and neutral losses
- Using isotopic patterns to confirm molecular structures
- Calculating rings and double bond equivalents (DBE)
- Mass delta calculations for structural confirmation
- Using extracted ion chromatograms (XIC)
- Contour maps for complex samples
- Database searches & spectral matching
Understanding Mass Spectra
Molecular Ion Identification & Confirmation
Advanced Interpretation Techniques
Application Areas of LC-MS
- Drug discovery & metabolite identification
- Environmental analysis & food safety
- Proteomics & biomarker research
Q&A and Closing Discussion
- Summary of Key Concepts
- Open Discussion on Challenges Faced in LC-MS
- Resources for Further Learning