LECO TruTOF HT High Throughput TOFMS Delivering the

Significance of the Topic

• Modern analytical laboratories face growing demands for faster sample throughput, higher sensitivity, and reliable quantification in complex matrices.
• High-speed time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) addresses limitations of traditional quadrupole and ion trap detectors by combining rapid acquisition with full-range mass spectra.
• The integration of advanced software algorithms further enhances peak detection and deconvolution, enabling confident identification of coeluting and low-level compounds.

Study Objectives and Overview

• Present the capabilities of LECO’s TruTOF HT benchtop TOFMS coupled with ChromaTOF®-GC software.
• Demonstrate how Time-Compressed Chromatography, Automated Peak Find, and True Signal Deconvolution® improve throughput and data quality.
• Compare performance metrics—acquisition speed, dynamic range, mass sensitivity—against conventional GC-MS platforms.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The TruTOF HT TOFMS operates at up to 80 full-range mass spectra per second, employing both electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) sources within an isolated ion source chamber. Key hardware components include:

• Reflectron analyzer and orthogonal accelerator for high mass resolution.
• Fast transient recorder and high-speed detector to capture continuous spectra.
• Turbo-molecular and roughing pumps for stable vacuum conditions.

ChromaTOF-GC software provides:

• Automated Peak Find based on user-defined peak width and signal-to-noise thresholds.
• True Signal Deconvolution to extract pure spectra from coeluting analytes and background.
• Custom report generation, NIST library search, and EPA-style reporting modules.

Main Results and Discussion

• High acquisition rates yield >18 data points across narrow GC peaks, ensuring accurate peak definition and deconvolution performance.
• Automated Peak Find identifies all nine pesticides in a complex mixture only when acquisition speed exceeds 20 Hz; single-spectra acquisition fails to detect hidden peaks.
• True Signal Deconvolution successfully removes matrix and coelution interferences, recovering clean spectra for library matching under EI and CI conditions.
• Demonstrated linear dynamic range spanning at least three orders of magnitude (5 pg/µL to 5 000 pg/µL) with excellent correlation (r²≈0.9997) on hexachlorobenzene.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Significantly reduced run times increase sample throughput and laboratory efficiency.
• Enhanced detection of low-abundance and coeluting compounds without additional sample prep.
• Integrated software streamlines workflows for QA/QC, environmental, food, flavor/fragrance, and metabolomics analyses.
• Flexible ionization modes support both targeted and untargeted studies in one analytical sequence.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Expansion to comprehensive two-dimensional GC×GC with acquisition rates up to 500 Hz for ultimate resolution.
• Development of higher-resolution TOFMS systems using folded flight path technology for sub-ppm mass accuracy.
• Integration with artificial intelligence for real-time data mining and predictive spectral deconvolution.
• Broader adoption in metabolomics, petrochemicals, and biotech applications requiring high-throughput, high-fidelity analyses.

Conclusion

The LECO TruTOF HT TOFMS, coupled with ChromaTOF-GC software, delivers an exceptional balance of speed, sensitivity, dynamic range, and automated data processing. This platform empowers laboratories to tackle complex analytical challenges efficiently, unlocking new possibilities in routine and high-speed GC-MS applications.

Used Instrumentation

• LECO TruTOF HT Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (80 Hz acquisition, EI/CI sources, isolated ion source).
• ChromaTOF®-GC software with Automated Peak Find and True Signal Deconvolution®.
• GC front end with compatible sample-handling accessories (LEAP, Gerstel, Agilent).

References

• LECO Corporation. TruTOF HT TOFMS Specification Sheet 209-187-001. 2011.