What is the argon flow for Xevo Tof mass spectrometers? - WKB10674

ENVIRONMENT

• Xevo G3 QTof
• Xevo G2-XS QTof
• Xevo G2-XS Tof
• Xevo G2-S QTof
• Xevo G2-S Tof
• Xevo G2 QTof
• Xevo G2 Tof
• Xevo QTof

ANSWER

The mass spectrometers of the Xevo Tof product family are expected to have a default argon flow rate of approximately 0.2 mL/min delivered to the collision cell assembly during routine operational use.

A year with the instrument in constant use will require approximately 105 L.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Waters Xevo Tof mass spectrometers require the use of a constant collision gas flow through the collision cell assembly for routine operation.

Argon (dry, oil-free, purity ≥ 99.997%) is the collision gas used by default for all our Waters Xevo Tof mass spectrometers.

Only the Waters Xevo G3 QTof mass spectrometer is currently supported with a nitrogen collision gas option kit. Nitrogen supply for collision gas purposes must be dry, oil-free, and high-purity (≥ 99%).

Waters Xevo QTof and Xevo G2 QTof/Tof mass spectrometer products have a mass flow control controller (MFC) to deliver the argon to the collision cell assembly. The argon flow rate setting is controlled via the Waters software (engineer view).

Waters Xevo G2-S QTof/Tof, Xevo G2-XS QTof/Tof, and Xevo G3 QTof mass spectrometer products do not have an MFC to deliver the collision gas to the collision cell assembly. Therefore, the collision gas flow rate cannot be controlled via the Waters software. The collision gas flow rate is adjusted with an external collision gas regulator gauge fitted at the back of the instrument. The collision gas supply pressure is set during the installation of the MS instrument: between 0.3 and 0.5 bar, depending on the MS instrument and what collision gas is used.

Expected collision cell vacuum readbacks are shown the table below: