I am applying for an equipment grant. In the past we've always worked with GC-FID and GC-MS but the equipment is out of date and needs to be replaced (struggling to find machine parts and support for the software). The funder does not want to fund another GC-MS and recommended GC-MS/MS. I am however not sure in which way the GC-MS/MS holds benefit above the GC-MS in terms of fatty acid analysis research except for:
1) Better sensitivity and specificity
2) Small amounts of sample
Any recommendations will be appreciated
Dear Jeanette,
openly spoken there will not be much extra performance for the analysis you plan if you have a GC-MS/MS. GC/MS alone delivers all usually needed for FAME analysis, excellent separation, high sensitivity, reproducibility, and specificity.
What makes a GC-MS/MS different from a GC/MS is the triple quadrupole detector which allows to specifically fragment the analytes detect additional fragments that might provide enhanced structural information. Theoretically this could allow to e.g. locate double bonds within molecules or gain extra information on unknown fatty acids you might face. If you do routine analysis, however, I would not value this extra very high and a GC-MS/MS machine is more complex and far more expensive.
If your old equipment, however, is really outdated, already a new GC/MS will provide you with enormously increased sensivity. The suppliers have new inert ion sources and much faster electronics so that the sample amount is largely reduced and the separation capability is largely enhanced. In addition, because of these improvements, you will be able to run faster gradients and increase the throughput machine so that you also can handle more samples. Perhaps this is the way to go.
Good luck for your application.
Best,
Christoph
Given that the funder wants to fund a GC-QqQ you should be aware that you can easily run any QqQ in single quadrupole mode. That means you have both a GC-MS and a GC-MS/MS in the same machine. This gives you the structural determination if and when you need it and allows you to run as a conventional GC-MS when it is convenient.
Personally I have never had too much analytical capability. Every time I have added a new capability I have found a use for it. I have, however, routinely suffered from a lack of capabilities that I wish I could afford. You have funds available for a new and wonderful machine. Take them.
Sensitivity in real matrices means selectivity, in this terms tandem MS has MORE sensitivity than single quad. Tandem MS is not so complex comparing to single quad, so don`t afraid it.
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