Waters Xevo TQ-S

Xevo® TQ-S is an advanced benchtop tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer, designed for the most demanding quantitative UPLC-MS/MS applications. The ultimate in tandem quadrupole performance allows you to achieve unrivalled sensitivity and robustness, available to everyone due to the accessibility of the Xevo platform.

• Class-leading sensitivity and robustness.
• Qualitative information when you need it most.
• Accelerated method development for sensitive and robust methods.
• Reduces complexity, increases ease of use, and ensures the correct result every time.
• The widest range of ionization capabilities today, future-proofing for the innovations of tomorrow.

 API sources and ionisation modes

1) High-performance ZSpray™ dual-orthogonal API sources: 1) Multi-mode source – ESI/APCI/ESCi® (standard) NB – Dedicated APCI requires an additional probe (optional)

2) APCI IonSABRE II probe (optional)

3) Dual-mode APPI/APCI source (optional)

4) nanoFlow ESI source (optional)

5) ASAP (optional)

6) APGC ion source (optional)

7) ionKey™ source (optional)

• Optimised gas flow dynamics for efficient ESI desolvation (supporting LC flow rates up to 2 mL/min)
• Tool-free source exchange
• Vacuum isolation valve
• Tool-free access to user-serviceable elements
• Plug-and-play probes
• De-clustering cone gas
• Software control of gas flows and heating elements

Ion source transfer optics

StepWave, ion transfer optics, delivering class-leading UPLC/MS/MS sensitivity. The unique off-axis design dramatically increases the efficiency of ion transfer from the ion source to the quadrupole MS analyser at the same time as actively eliminating undesirable neutral contaminants.

Mass Analyser

Two high-resolution, high-stability quadrupole analysers (MS1/MS2), plus pre-filters to maximise resolution and transmission while preventing contamination of the main analysers.

Collision Cell

T-Wave enabled for optimal MS/MS performance at high data acquisition rates; ScanWave enabled for enhanced MS/MS spectral performance (product ion scanning); Software programmable gas control.

Detector

Low-noise, off-axis, long-life photomultiplier detector

Vacuum system

Three air-cooled turbomolecular vacuum pumps; Two vacuum backing pumps

Dimensions

Width: 61.0 cm (24.0 in.)
Height: 70.7 cm (27.8 in.)
Depth: 99.5 cm (39.0 in.)

Regulatory approvals/marks

CE, CB, NRTL (CAN/US), RCM

Software

Systems supported on MassLynx® version 4.1 or later; OpenLynx™ and TargetLynx™ XS Application Managers are included as standard.  

IntelliStart Technology

• System parameter checks and alerts
• Integrated sample/calibrant delivery system + programmable divert valve
• Automated mass calibration
• Automated sample tuning
• Automated SIR and MRM method development
• UPLC/MS/MS System Check – automated on-column performance test

Automated MRM scheduling (acquisition rate assignment)

Dwell time, inter-channel delay time and inter-scan delay time for individual channels in a Multiple MRM experiment can be automatically assigned (using the Auto-Dwell feature) to ensure that the optimal number of MRM data points per chromatographic peak is acquired. The Auto-Dwell feature dynamically optimises MRM cycle times to accommodate retention time windows that overlap. This dramatically simplifies MRM method creation, irrespective of the number of compounds in a single assay, while at the same time ensuring the very best quantitative performance for every experiment.

Automated MRM scheduling (acquisition window assignment)

Multiple MRM experiments can be scheduled (manually or automatically using the Quanpedia database) using retention time windows to optimise the cycle time for each MRM channel monitored. If required, MRM retention time windows can overlap partially or completely, ensuring that MRM data acquisition rates will be optimal for the quantification of all analytes in a given assay.

Acquisition Modes

• Full scan MS
• Product ion scan (ScanWave enhanced)
• Precursor ion scan
• Constant neutral loss scan
• Selected ion recording (SIR)
• Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)
• Simultaneous Full scan and MRM (RADAR)

Survey scan modes

• Full scan MS data acts as an automatic trigger for the collection of ScanWave-enhanced product ion spectra
• Precursor ion scan data acts as an automatic trigger for the collection of ScanWave-enhanced product ion spectra
• Constant neutral scan data acts as an automatic trigger for the collection of ScanWave-enhanced product ion spectra

Product ion confirmation (PIC) mode

MRM data acts as an automatic trigger for the collection of ScanWave-enhanced product ion spectra

RADAR

An information-rich acquisition approach that allows you to collect highly specific quantitative data for target compounds while providing the ability to visualise all other components.

Mass range

2 to 2048 m/z

Scan speed

Up to 10,000 Da/s
Examples of achievable acquisition rates:
10 scans per second (m/z 50 to 1000)
20 scans per second (m/z 50 to 500)

Mass stability

Mass assignment will be within +/- 0.05 Da over a 24 hour period (the instrument must be operated in conformance with the laboratory environmental guidelines given in the Xevo TQ-S site preparation guide)

Linearity of response

The linearity of response relative to sample concentration, for a specified compound, is five orders of magnitude from the limit of detection.

Polarity switching time

20 ms to switch between positive and negative ion modes.

MS to MS/MS switching time

3 ms ESCi mode switching time 20 ms to switch between ESI and APCI.

MRM acquisition rate

Maximum acquisition rate of 250 MRM data points per second;
Minimum dwell time of 1 ms per MRM channel;
Minimum inter-channel delay of 3 ms

Inter-channel cross-talk

The inter-channel cross-talk between two MRM transitions, acquired using an MRM dwell time of 1 ms and an inter-channel delay time of 3 ms, is less than 0.01%.

Number of MRM channels

Up to 16,384 MRM channels (512 functions, 32 channels per function) can be monitored in a single acquisition; up to 8,000 MRM channels when operating in GLP/secure mode(250 functions, 32 channels per function).

Mass resolution

Automatically adjusted (IntelliStart) to desired resolution; the valley between the m/z2034.63 and m/z2035.63 peaks is <12% of the average height of the two peaks.

MRM sensitivity (ESI+)

A 1 pg on-column injection of reserpine will give a chromatographic signal-to-noise greater than 300,000:1, using raw unsmoothed data (Gradient separation, LC mobile phase flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, MRM transition m/z 609 > 195).

MRM sensitivity (ESI+)

A 1fg on column injection of Midazolam onto a 150 μm chromatographic separation device will give a chromatographic signal to noise greater than 250:1, using raw unsmoothed data (Gradient separation, LC mobile phase flow rate of 2μL/min, MRM transition m/z 326 > 291).

MRM sensitivity (ESI-)

A 1 pg on-column injection of chloramphenicol will give a chromatographic signal-to-noise greater than 200,000:1, using raw unsmoothed data (Gradient separation, LC mobile phase flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, MRM transition m/z 321 > 152).

MRM sensitivity (APCI+)

A 1 pg on-column injection of of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone will give a chromatographic signal-to-noise greater than 100:1, using raw unsmoothed data (Gradient separation, LC mobile phase flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, MRM transition m/z 331 > 109).

MRM sensitivity (GC/MS)

A 100fg on-column injection of Octafluoronaphthalene will give a chromatographic signal to noise greater than 4500:1, using raw unsmoothed data (1 μL Splitless injection, Helium flow rate of 2 ml/min, MRM transition m/z 272 > 241).