ABSciex API 3200 MS MS opinions?

[H2Oh]

Anyone out there have an opinion to share regarding the API 3200? We're looking into these to mate with a Shimadzu LC or Thermo IC.

I've seen good results from some demo samples but haven't yet used one in person.

Any and all information is welcome please.
Thanks

[mt_fong_01_13]

I am a user of the absciex mass spectrometer previously. The most currently model would be API 6500. 3200 is an old stuff. Please consider the specification of the model and your intended uses (sensitivity? Scanning rate?). By the way, try to find other brand of tandem mass spectrometer for comparisons.

[James_Ball]

We currently use the API3200 and I think it works great. Little down time and few problems so far, and easy to maintain, even when we were running tobacco extracts.

I would suggest getting software that is at least Analyst version 1.5 or above, we have 1.4 and while it is powerful, it is not so straight forward to use if you have experience with something like Agilent software.

[H2Oh]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I'll be doing fairly routine analysis once the instrument is setup and don't have very low detection limits. I really only need to reach 0.1 PPM for a quantification limit of some organic polyphosphates. My again single quad struggles with this though. I've seen good initial results from ABSciex.

Part of the allure of an older instrument is the price. I don't know that my budget will allow for the newest, latest and greatest.

Any thoughts on what a fair price for a 3200 is? I think I'm getting a good deal, but like buying a car, know that a good deal isn't always actually a good deal.

Do you know if Analyst integrates with third party LCs well? I've been told it does, but haven't seen it first hand.
Thanks!

[James_Ball]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I'll be doing fairly routine analysis once the instrument is setup and don't have very low detection limits. I really only need to reach 0.1 PPM for a quantification limit of some organic polyphosphates. My again single quad struggles with this though. I've seen good initial results from ABSciex.

Part of the allure of an older instrument is the price. I don't know that my budget will allow for the newest, latest and greatest.

Any thoughts on what a fair price for a 3200 is? I think I'm getting a good deal, but like buying a car, know that a good deal isn't always actually a good deal.

Do you know if Analyst integrates with third party LCs well? I've been told it does, but haven't seen it first hand.
Thanks!

I know that if you purchase from ABISciex they usually offer the option of Agilent or Shimatzu LCs and I believe Thermo they can control as well.

In MRM you should be able to see the phosphates well. I have used ours to look for organophosphate pesticides and it can hit those levels easily. The thing that seems to have the lowest sensitivity are multi-chlorinated compounds(no single high abundance base peak) and PAHs(needs photo-ionization source).

I currently run Picric Acid/Ammonium Picrate down to 1ppb with no sample concentration needed, just filter and run.

[H2Oh]

Thanks, James. Can you share any of your method conditions for the organophosphates? I'm torn between an IC method with either OH or methylamine or going towards a more traditional LC using a C18 column and an ion pairing agent. Our last MS didn't play well with OH despite electrolytic suppression so I'm trying to shy away from that.

[James_Ball]

Thanks, James. Can you share any of your method conditions for the organophosphates? I'm torn between an IC method with either OH or methylamine or going towards a more traditional LC using a C18 column and an ion pairing agent. Our last MS didn't play well with OH despite electrolytic suppression so I'm trying to shy away from that.

Sorry for taking so long to reply, was on vacation

We ran the organophosphate pesticides using a C18 column and the mobile phase was water and methanol with 5mM Ammonium Formate. I took it from a application that ABI had on their website where they were analyzing 300-400 pesticides on a single run. It was a simple gradient and could possibly work for your application.


http://www3.appliedbiosystems.com/cms/g ... 041987.pdf

That is the link to the method I was working from.

[H2Oh]

Thanks, James! I'll give it a try.