Ion Sources

Unleash the power within your experiments and immerse yourself in a world of better performance and enhanced precision. The CaptiveSpray 2 and CaptiveSpray Ultra 2 - the gateways to a new era in ion mobility spectrometry. Brace yourself for the ultimate transformation and be captivated by the extraordinary possibilities that lie ahead. Step into the future and witness the revolution in trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS). The time is now to redefine what's possible. Are you ready to experience the difference?

VIP-HESI (Vacuum Insulated Probe Heated Electrospray Ionization) is a cutting-edge ion source designed to enhance sensitivity and optimize mass spectrometry (MS) analytical tasks. With its heated electrospray technology, VIP-HESI significantly increases ion yield, surpassing the capabilities of standard electrospray. This leads to a substantial gain in sensitivity for a wide range of compounds, making it an invaluable tool in metabolomics and pharmaceutical analysis, environmental analysis, food testing, and forensic drug investigations. With a proven track record as a robust workhorse ion source on Bruker TripleQuad mass spectrometers for nearly a decade, VIP-HESI has become an industry favorite.

One of the significant advantages of VIP-HESI is its compatibility with a wide range of instruments. The latest version can be used with all timsTOF and QTOF (Quadrupole Time of Flight) series instruments and can be quickly and easily installed. Leveraging its advanced features, VIP-HESI achieves sensitivities comparable to those of leading Triple Quad MS for diverse compounds. Furthermore, it retains the advantages of accurate mass values with TIP (True Isotopic Pattern). Operating the VIP-HESI is straightforward, thanks to its simple parameters, and it includes an efficient active exhaust system, enabling seamless upgrades from conventional sources.

The enhanced performance, the VIP-HESI system offers the microFlow emitter as an optional addition to its standard ESI sprayer. This simple drop-in replacement boasts an inner diameter of 50µm, significantly improving peak intensities within the lower flow range limits of the VIP-HESI source (ranging from 1µL/min to 50µL/min). The microFlow Emitter's narrow ID is the ideal solution for achieving increased analytical depth while maintaining robustness.

VIP-HESI is a dual-source system that combines VIP Heated Electrospray with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) probes as standard. This powerful combination ensures versatile capabilities and allows researchers to explore a wider range of applications. By incorporating VIP-HESI into their analytical workflows, scientists can unlock new possibilities and achieve remarkable results.

The ion source significantly improves sensitivity and reduces detection limits by enhancing ionization efficiency across a wide range of applications. In the VIP-HESI system, an electrospray is maintained at a precisely controlled vaporizing temperature. This enables the analyte ions to undergo enhanced desolvation, even at high eluent flow rates during UHPLC separations, resulting in sharp chromatographic peaks.

Within the Vacuum Insulated Probe (VIP), the eluent stream containing the compounds of interest is effectively shielded against heat by a vacuum barrier, similar to a dewar. This combination of heating and integrating the eluent stream into the probe results in a simple and easy-to-maintain design. Additionally, the implementation of a powerful active exhaust, utilizing the Venturi effect, effectively prevents re-circulation. This demonstrates a smart application of well-established physical principles in modern instrumentation.

VIP-HESI in Forensics
Ethyl-Glucuronids (EtG and EtS) are markers for alcohol misuse. The VIP-HESI source yields great sensitivity for determination of EtG from blood. For details, please refer to application note LCMS-122.

VIP-HESI in Food Safety
Extremely sensitive analytical methods are required for accurate low-level identification, and quantitation of zero-tolerance compounds in food.

Bruker’s TargetScreener application is boosted more than 10-fold for a representative subset of analytes when used with VIP-HESI instead of regular ESI source.

The VIP-HESI achieves a Limit of Quantitation (LOQ) more than 100 times lower than the minimum required performance level (MRPL).

VIP HESI in Glycopeptide Determination
Glycosylation is a common critical quality attribute (CQA) of therapeutic proteins and needs to be characterized during product development. Typically, this analysis is conducted after enzymatic release and tagging of the glycans followed by fluorescence and MS detection. A more modern workflow is to identify glycan compositions directly from tryptic peptide maps acquired with the timsTOF Pro and PASEF^® in combination with analytical LC and the new VIP-HESI ion source. It employs a glycan search method from peptide mapping data and uses previously identified aglycons as mass tags.

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) is used for less polar molecules where ESI fails to deliver reasonable quantities of ions. In contrast to ESI, it produces mainly singly-charged ions even for larger molecules.

APCI is only limited in the case of thermally unstable compounds, since evaporation of the solvent is done by heating the sample in the nebulizer needle. APCI is often used for metabolomics as well as for drug or pesticide screening.

The new Bruker APCI II source is of course compatible to Bruker's unique DirectProbe option DIP. The direct injection probe is a novel smart solid sample introduction technique allowing a rapid analysis of solids. Sample preparation is as simple as dipping a disposable glass capillary into the solid sample.

Unambiguos identification synthetic compound
This example shows the unambiguos identification of a synthetic compound using the autoMSn capability of an amaZon SL ion trap system. During the vaporization of solid (refer to TIC insert) data-dependent MS2 and MS3 spectra are taken. Note that after a simple neutral loss in MS2, MS3 provides rich structural information. Samples were kindly provided by SiChem GmbH, Bremen, Germany.

Atmospheric pressure photo ionization (APPI) is used for less polar or non-polar molecules that can not be ionized in either ESI or APCI.

APPI delivers a wide dynamic range and low chemical noise. With an operational flow range of 2µl/min – 1500µL/min it is compatible with cap- to analytical chromatography.

APPI II by Bruker Daltonics is the only APPI source with DirectProbe option for direct analysis of solid samples. The direct injection probe is a novel smart solid sample introduction technique allowing a rapid analysis of solids.

Sample preparation is as simple as dipping a disposable glass capillary into the solid sample.

APPI with DIP in Crude oil analysis
The example shows the results of a quick manual QC and Comparison of petroleum cuts with an amaZon SL.

• Extremely sensitive down to the sub-ng range of pure substance - amount not visible at all!
• Minimum sample preparation
• Direct analysis of liquid & solid samples
• Short analysis time
• No memory due to single-use glass tubes

Fields of applications are

• General Chemistry → Synthesis control
• Manual quality control of solids (Pharma, oil, explosives)
• Customs → Drugs of abuse, explosives
• Homeland security
• Environmental
• Thermal degradation processes (plastic production)
• Classical routine analysis (e.g. confirmation of sum formula)

Direct injection Probe with APCI for ID synthetic compounds
This example shows the unambiguos identification of a synthetic compound using the autoMSn capability of an amaZon SL ion trap system. During the vaporization of solid (refer to TIC insert) data-dependent MS2 and MS3 spectra are taken. Note that after a simple neutral loss in MS2, MS3 provides rich structural information. Samples were kindly provided by SiChem GmbH, Bremen, Germany.

Direct injection Probe with APPI for QC in Production
The example shows the results of a quick manual QC and Comparison of petroleum cuts with an amaZon SL. The three candidates gas oil vacuum gas oil and vacuum residue are clearly distinguishable without any sample preparation and no memory-effect due to single use sample tubes.

GC-APCI II Source Ultra-High Resolution TOF-MS on GC

Todays analytical chemistry often presents complex mixtures of compounds which are not available in libraries and data bases. Identification of such components can be easily performed with Bruker's ultra-high resolution TOF systems designed for LC or GC use. 

With its second generation GC-APCI source, Bruker offers the greatest flexibility and highest performance with a combined GC frontend and high-resolution MS system for confident ID of unknown compounds using complementary MS technology. The GC-APCI II interface can be coupled to any Bruker MS system with the common Apollo II source design. 

GC-APCI II is designed to connect to state-of-the-art GC systems including Bruker's 436-GC and 456-GC but can also be used with third party GC systems. The flexible, heated transfer line, automatic MS calibration and outstanding sensitivity make GC-APCI II the best solution for unknown ID in metabolomics and small molecule research.

Making a dedicated and expensive GC-TOF-MS used infrequently for just a few samples a thing of the past.
The GC-APCI II source enables GC coupling to any Bruker TOF or QTOF, trap or FTMS system originally designed for LC coupling.

Switching of the sources without venting the vacuum
The system has the capability to be easily switched from GC to LC and vice versa without tools and within minutes. There is no need to vent the MS vacuum.

Greater Flexibility
The design of the flexible heated transfer line means that the GC and MS must no longer be precisely aligned. Interfacing the GC and MS is simpler, giving more options in positioning the MS and GC while preserving the obtained GC separation.

Automatic MS Calibration
The unique calibrant reservoir of the GC-APCI II interface enables software-controlled calibrant delivery.

Improved LLOQ
The optimized ionization chamber provides improved GC-MS performance including lower background and higher sensitivity.

Unknown ID in Metabolomics
GC-MS is one of the few standard techniques in metabolomic analysis. In recent years the combination of gas chromatography and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) with high resolution mass spectrometry techniques has proven to be an important additional tool for the analysis of highly complex mixtures of natural products from plants and body fluids. While standard GC-EI-MS is based on the availability of mass spectral libraries, GC-APCI allows the assignment and identification of unknown metabolites. GC-APCI II has arrived with improved performance, lower background and higher sensitivity; opening a new dimension in the analysis of metabolomic samples. 

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are ubiquitous in the environment and many of them are considered to be carcinogenic. The analysis of these compounds at low concentrations is therefore an important task in environmental and food analysis.

Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) in combination with high resolution mass spectrometry techniques opens a new dimension in terms of sensitivity. APCI can be used in combination with GC and LC separation to cover the whole range of PAHs.

Dibenzodioxins and -furans
Dioxins are banned since the 1970s due to their ability to cause our springs to be silent. Their toxic and persisting nature still makes them compounds of both: Environmental and health concerns. The enormous toxicity of the “dirty dozen” requires highest sensitivity in the femtogram on column-range. Different chlorination pattern create technical mixtures of a few hundred congeners difficult to chromatographically resolve. GC-APCI can be ideally combined with hydrogen as carrier gas for highest chromatographic resolving power amongst all carrier gases.

Both environmental and food analysis can benefit not only for dioxin- and furan analysis but also other POPs like polychlorinated Biphenyls or brominated compounds.