Chromatography Forum

We are in the market for a new LC-MS/MS system to test water for toxins. I am reading up on specs from Thermo, Aglient, Perkin Elmer and Bruker and would like to hear from your experience from these 4 vendors.
I am inclined towards Thermo because I am familiarized with the software, but other than that I do not have much preferences.
Thanks for your time.

Anamari

Most instruments (of the same geometry) these days have very similar specs. The decision will therefore be colored to some extent by non-instrument factors.
Your choice is essentially not just which instrument, but also which instrument company will you be buying into ? Talk to other users about their experiences with a particular instrument/company---they will tell you the good/not so good, whereas the sales rep. will only tell you the good.

Do they have enough (good) service techs ?

Is the source easy to disassemble for cleaning ?

Is the software straightforward & user-friendly ?

Can you build your own calibration/tune file for special applications ?

How easy is tune optimization ?

Can you get ESI & APCI sources ?

Take your time !!!!

Too little info !
Budget ? Knowns, known unknowns, unknown unknowns ??

Choice of analyser TQ, Trap, TOF

Identify , quantitate, both ???

New pre-owned ??

Once the application is known and the budget approximated then you might get good suggestions regarding the pros and cons of the systems out there. Once you have established the solutions then you can look at what the vendors can offer you

Thanks,

The compounds of interest are known drinking water toxins, I am interested in quantitation of these compounds.
The choice of analyzer is a TQ.
I have experience with Thermo because I run a ISQ (GCMS) with Tracefinder software, so in that aspect this seems more attractive to me but we have had a Thermo LSQ LCMS in the past and have had many issues thru out the years with it.

Thanks,

The compounds of interest are known drinking water toxins, I am interested in quantitation of these compounds.
The choice of analyzer is a TQ.
I have experience with Thermo because I run a ISQ (GCMS) with Tracefinder software, so in that aspect this seems more attractive to me but we have had a Thermo LSQ LCMS in the past and have had many issues thru out the years with it.

We use the ABSciex unit here, the API3200 TQ and it does well for quantitation of such compounds. The source is easy to clean as well as the cones and the only repair I have had done is to replace the ion gauge tube for the high vacuum, which I was able to do myself. The software version we use is Analyst 1.4, which is from 2006 and is rather cumbersome. I believe the newer software is easier to use but I have not had hands on experience with it yet.

Changing from ESI to APCI takes only a few seconds, just slide one probe out and the other in. Their current models are on the order of 4x to 10x more sensitive than the 3200 or maybe even better than that, and I have not found much problems with sensitivity even with our unit. The only test we could not do was the current UCMR method for PFOAs in drinking water and I believe if I had more time to develop that method I could have met the sensitivity requirement.

I don't know much about the service since I have only had their service reps in twice over the 8 years we owned it and that was to clean the instrument and do a preventative maintenance check out on it. I only have them do that because I haven't learned how to pull the quads to clean them yet

Shimadzu Nexera UHPLC + Shimadzu 8050 (triple quad MS/MS).
Second choice: waters UPLC I-CLASS + Waters Xevo TQ-S.
I would not consider perkin elmer and bruker.

As mentioned earlier.. Most instruments have very similar specs..

In my oppinion software is the most important aspect.. Especially if you already know one vendors software packages..

If you need robust instrument - look for ABSciex QTrap or Bruker Q-TOF.
If you need easy software - look for Thermo and Agilent
If you need cheap - look for Shimadzu.