User:GreyLockKey/Time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Quadrupole time-of-flight
Quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QToF-MS) has a similar configuration to a tandem mass spectrometer with a mass-resolving quadrupole and collision cell hexapole, but instead of a second mass-resolving quadrupole, a time-of-flight mass analyzer is used. Both quadrupoles can operate in RF mode only to allow all ions to pass through to the mass analyzer with minimal fragmentation. To increase spectral detail, the system takes advantage of collision-induced dissociation. Once the ions reach the flight tube, the ion pulser sends them upwards towards the reflectron and back down into the detector. Since the ion pulser transfers the same kinetic energy to all molecules, the flight time is dictated by the mass of the analyte.

QToF is capable of measuring mass to the 4th decimal place and is frequently used for pharmaceutical and toxicological analysis as a screening method for drug analogues. Identification is done by collection of the mass spectrum and comparison to tandem mass spectrum libraries.