Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers
Gas Analyzers

Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Technology

Our real-time EXTREL™ quadrupole mass spectrometers use a type of mass spectrometry technique that is used to measure the masses and relative abundances of ions in a gas or vapor sample. The technique is based on the principle that ions of different mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios will follow different paths through a set of quadrupole rods when subjected to an electric field.

With our quadrupole mass spectrometry, the sample is introduced into a vacuum chamber and ionized using an ion source. The ions are then accelerated into a quadrupole mass filter, which consists of four parallel rods arranged in a square pattern. The rods are charged with a radio frequency voltage that creates a time-varying electric field.

As the ions enter the quadrupole mass filter, they are subjected to the electric field and are separated based on their m/z ratios. Ions with a particular m/z ratio will oscillate in a stable trajectory through the quadrupole rods and pass through the exit aperture, while ions with other m/z ratios will be unstable and will collide with the rods and be eliminated from the sample. The ions passing through the quadrupole rods are detected using an electron multiplier detector. The detector generates a signal proportional to the number of ions that strike its surface, and this signal is then amplified and processed to provide a mass spectrum of the sample.

Our quadrupole mass spectrometry has a wide range of applications in fields such as chemistry, physics, environmental science, and engineering. It is commonly used for the analysis of gases and vapors, including the identification of unknown compounds, quantification of trace impurities, and monitoring of reaction products in real-time. The technique is also useful for the analysis of biological molecules such as proteins and peptides, as well as for the analysis of isotopes and stable isotopic ratios.

Here are some examples of industries that use our EXTREL mass spectrometers:

Petrochemical industry: Used in the petrochemical industry to monitor and analyze the composition of gases in refinery processes, including gas processing, catalytic cracking, and hydrogen production.
Semiconductor industry: Used in the semiconductor industry to monitor the gas composition during the production of semiconductor materials and devices, such as integrated circuits and computer chips.
Environmental monitoring: Used in environmental monitoring to analyze air and water quality, and to detect and quantify pollutants and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Pharmaceutical industry: Used in the pharmaceutical industry to analyze the purity and composition of gases used in drug production, as well as to monitor the quality of the air in sterile manufacturing environments.
Materials science: Used in materials science to analyze the composition of gases used in the production of new materials, such as ceramics and polymers.
Food and beverage industry: Used in the food and beverage industry to analyze the composition of gases used in the production and packaging of food products, as well as to monitor the quality of the air in food storage and processing facilities.