Hamamatsu promotes new products such as ion sources and detectors and enters the field of mass spectrometry

The 17th Beijing Analytical Testing Conference and Exhibition (BCEIA 2017) was held at the Beijing National Convention Center from October 10th to 13th. The core equipment manufacturer of scientific instruments, Hamamatsu, participated in many new products and technologies. Among them, mass spectrometry related devices are very eye-catching. Regarding how Hamamatsu views the mass spectrometry market and technology development trends, the instrument information network editor interviewed Mr. Zhou Xusheng, the head of the mass spectrometry project promotion in Hamamatsu China.

Hamamatsu booth

Hamamatsu's photomultiplier tubes for atomic absorption, atomic fluorescence and other spectroscopic instruments have a long-standing reputation. In fact, Hamamatsu's mass spectrometry related devices have been around for more than 40 years. However, for some reasons, it has not been “going out” to Japan. It was only in the past two years that it began to promote and promote in markets such as China.

As for why this time is promoted, and as a component supplier, Hamamatsu sees the prospects of the mass spectrometry market and the development direction of technology and applications. Zhou Xusheng said that mass spectrometry technology and application are very hot now, and the market is booming. . Especially in the Chinese market, mass spectrometry is required for the analysis of environmental atmospheric particulate sources and related VOC analysis. A large number of mass spectrometry methods are involved in the development of relevant standards.

Hama Loong, Head of Mass Spectrometry Project Promotion in China's Analytical Field, Zhou Xusheng

In recent years, when interpreting some large companies' financial reports, they will find that the mass spectrometry business has maintained good growth. Especially after the 2008 financial crisis, the growth trend of the mass spectrometry market has become more and more rapid, and the growth of the Chinese market has become more “violent”. Almost every major company's financial report specifically mentions that the sales of mass spectrometers in China's environmental, health and other related markets have increased significantly.

From another point of view, the number of domestic mass spectrometry enterprises is increasing, and in addition to things like East Analysis, General Analysis, Concentration Technology, Tianrui Instrument, Guangzhou Hexin, etc., there are also many new companies, such as Ningbo Hua Yi Ning Chuang, Beijing Qing Pu, Qingdao Rong Zhi and so on. These new companies start with MALDI or small portable mass spectrometry, which also reflects the two developments of mass spectrometry. Small portable mass spectrometry has a good prospect in the fields of environment and law enforcement; MALDI mass spectrometry is more focused on medical and clinical, and the medical clinical field is also a hot spot in mass spectrometry applications in recent years.

At the earliest, Obama proposed a precise medical strategy. Last year, China also promised to reduce antibiotic abuse in the G20 announcement. MALDI is a good means to identify bacteria, microorganisms, blood cells and tissues in the body. It can read comprehensive information of proteins in cells and is a good means for diagnosis of genetic diseases. In addition, from the perspective of profit, the domestic top three hospitals have the strength and willing to equip with MALDI and other equipment to carry out more services.

"If you can use mass spectrometry technology in more fields or people's lives, it will be a very big innovation in the analytical technology or instrument market." Zhou Xusheng said.

"In response to these market demands, Hamamatsu began to vigorously promote mass spectrometry related devices in China." As for the means of Hamamatsu's promotion, Zhou Xusheng introduced that most of the domestic mass spectrometry enterprises are already customers of Hamamatsu Spectrum and other devices, knowing that Hamamatsu has these Mass spectrometry devices are also willing to try. Hamamatsu products, such as vacuum device microchannel plate (MCP) products, have the accumulation of more than 60 years of vacuum technology in Hamamatsu, and have a good guarantee in the quality of mass production such as product consistency. MCP is an electron multiplier that can detect and multiply electrons in two dimensions. MCPs are also sensitive to ions, vacuum ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays, so MCPs can be used in detectors for the location and energy of these materials.

The electron multiplier (EM) is also a mass spectrometer detector that is currently used in many forms. The basic principle is to amplify secondary electrons generated by charged particles.

EM multiplication principle

In addition to the inherent products of MCP and EM, Hamamatsu continues to innovate and release a state-of-the-art technical information on almost every year of ASMS. Zhou Xusheng introduced several new technologies introduced in the past two years. For example, in 2016, the composite MCP was released, which increased its service life by 7-10 times due to the addition of a 1000-fold avalanche tube. In 2017, another composite MCP was introduced for MALDI mass spectrometry for macromolecular analysis, which has a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio compared to conventional MCP.

In addition, a detector CEM (Channel Electron Multiplier) for miniaturized ion trap mass spectrometry can withstand high voltage even under low vacuum conditions; and the device does not contain lead, which has certain advantages in environmental protection or instrument certification. . However, Zhou Xusheng also mentioned that "these new technologies are still in the development stage, but they have been provided to domestic mass spectrometry companies for trial use, and evaluation feedback will be carried out until the performance is stable and can meet the user's requirements before mass production."

At the heart of mass spectrometry is "making ions" and "detecting ions", everything else is for this purpose. Therefore, at this BCEIA 2017, Hamamatsu highlighted the ion source and detector related products.

For example, the new photoionization ion source - VUV xenon lamp L13301, based on MgF2 window material VUV xenon lamp can promote a new soft ionization mode with high ionization efficiency and small amount of fragment ion peak generation. Its ionization energy can reach 10.78eV, the ionization efficiency is improved, and more ions can be ionized than traditional PID lamps, which makes the overall sensitivity of the instrument several times higher. In addition, it has the characteristics of low cost and easy installation. It has a good application in the field of VOCs monitoring (click to learn more >>), the ionization energy of VUV xenon lamps up to 10.78 ev can ionize most VOCs.

VUV xenon lamp L13301

In response to the characteristics of TOF-MS and the requirements for MCP detectors, Hamamatsu's latest F12396-11, F13446-11, and F1094-11 were represented in the BCEIA. These MCPs feature fast response, minimal post-pulse, robustness/no distortion, and funnel-type MCP\ to maintain higher detection efficiency. They can also be combined with a fluorescent screen for electro-optic conversion, and a rear-end plus CCD camera. image.

Hamamatsu MCP F12396-11 / F13446-11

In recent years, ICP-MS has been widely used for the detection of more and more trace heavy metals in metallurgy, environmental protection, geology, minerals, food and other fields. ICP-MS is aimed at the determination of trace inorganic elements (detection limit) Ppt level). In response to the characteristics of ICP-MS and the need for detectors, Hamamatsu demonstrated the EM R13733 with large dynamic range dual mode output (analog output and count output).

Hamamatsu Electronic Multiplier R13733