massspektrometriaan

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to measure the mass-to-charge ratio of ions. It enables identification and quantification of molecules in complex mixtures by converting them into charged particles that can be separated and detected. The basic instrumentation of a mass spectrometer includes an ion source, mass analyzer, and detector. In the ion source, atoms or molecules are ionised through methods such as electron impact, chemical ionisation, or electrospray. The generated ions are then directed into a mass analyzer, which may be a quadrupole, time‑of‑flight, orbitrap, or magnetic sector device, each of which separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. Detectors, often electron multipliers or microchannel plates, record the ion signals, producing a mass spectrum that displays intensity versus mass-to-charge ratio.

Mass spectrometry can be performed in several modes. Direct‑injection and gas chromatography‑mass spectrometry (GC‑MS) are commonly used for volatile compounds. Liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry (LC‑MS) handles a wider range of polar and non‑polar analytes, while matrix‑assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) is suited for large biomolecules such as proteins and polymers. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) adds an additional stage of fragmentation, providing structural information and increasing analytical specificity.

Since its invention in the 1910s, mass spectrometry has become indispensable in fields such as proteomics, metabolomics, environmental monitoring, forensics, and pharmaceuticals. Its high sensitivity, rapid analysis, and ability to provide both qualitative and quantitative data have made it a central technique in modern analytical chemistry.