Chromatography Forum

Dear all,
I'm working with a QuattroMicro LC-MSMS system for food controls mainly used for pesticides and veterinary residues analyses. This mean quantitative analyses of traces (<µg/kg) in very complex matrices

Now I'm looking for a new system. My question is what's new and powerful on the market.

In the triple quadrupole family:
Does any one has advise to compare the QuattroPremier XE (Waters), 6410 (Agilent), API4000-5000 (AB) and others

Other detector:
What could be the benefit to use system like Qtrap, QTOF or LTQorbitrap compare to triple quadrupole? I think the price must be much higher?

Thanks in advance for all answers

I personally prefer API4000/5000 over the other two, although there seems no significant difference among them.

Since your main purpose is quantitative analysis, a trip Q will work better than a Qtrap.

if you are only looking for small molecules, it's not worth spending extra money on a QTOF instrument.

I haven't had a chance to try the LTQorbitrap, but seems it mainly aims at proteomics.

Go to LCGCMAG.com, you will find many information about those techniques

This is a link to a great article on how to best evaluate any new purchase. The article is on page 10.
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/advanst ... olumn0106/

I like API 4000/5000 for their sensitivity... in your case - complex matrix, a robust ion-source is very helpful. Although not fan of Agilent's system, their earlier single-quad LC/MS is know to have very stable ion-source - rivalling API systems (note: I'm talking about stability of ion-source).

I heard Agilent's new triple-quad is very afordable. However, I'm rather sceptical about their sensitivity claims... they claim to be able to match API 4000 sensitivity... may be >= API 3000, perhaps not API 4000..., you could always send these vendors sample to check out their performances?