What solvents can be used with LCMS? - WKB74749

ENVIRONMENT

• ACQ QDa Detector
• SQ Detector 2
• Xevo TQ MS
• Xevo TQD
• Xevo TQ-S
• Xevo TQ-S micro
• Xevo TQ-XS
• Xevo G2-S
• Xevo G2-XS
• SYNAPT G2-S
• SYNAPT G2-Si

ANSWER

The solvents commonly used with reverse-phase LC/MS (API) systems are as follows.

(These are usually used in combination.)

• Water
• Methanol
• Acetonitrile
• Formic acid (<0.1%)
• Acetic acid (<0.1%)
• Trifluoroacetic acid (<0.1%)
• Ammonium acetate (<10 mM)
• Ammonium formate (<10 mM)

Notes:

• 100% acetonitrile is not a proton donor.
• Ammonium acetate and ammonium formate do not dissolve in acetonitrile.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Important: 

The solvents listed above do not comprise a comprehensive listing. Some solvents might be chemically compatible with the listed mass detectors and mass spectrometers, though they are not referenced in the lists. When a method is migrated from LC to LCMS, users are encouraged to change-over the solvent to those listed above, because those are the commonly used LCMS solvents and additives.