Evaluation of High Resolution Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry QTOF-MS for Isomer Separation and its Application on Isomeric Flavonoids in Propolis Extracts

Martina Macht, Bruker, Bremen, Germany

Introduction:

In combination with mass spectrometry, ion mobility separation was introduces a decade ago to separate isobaric compounds according to their respective collision cross sections. However, the resolving power of conventional techniques is limited. Novel design of trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS) allows resolution > 200, 100% duty cycle in principle and highly reproducible collision cross section (CCS) values. We present TIMS separation of various isomeric compounds such as isobaric trisaccharides or lipids to facilitate their mass spectrometric characterization, otherwise being difficult to analyze. Additionally, we show the benefit of the high resolving power for analysis of flavonoids in propolis, a natural bees resin, being a dense mixture where conventional ion mobility analysis does not have enough resolution for sufficient separation.

Novel Aspect:

Investigation of lipids and trisaccharides by HR trapped ion mobility QTOF-MS, evaluation of HR trapped ion mobility MS for separation and identification of isobaric compounds in complex samples at the example of flavonoids