Absorption Mode Fourier Transform Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Multiplexing Combined with Half-Window Apodization Windows Improves Resolution and Shortens Acquisition Times.

ABSTRACT

Fourier transform multiplexing enables the coupling of drift tube ion mobility to a wide array of mass spectrometers with improved ion utilization and duty cycles compared to dual-gate signal averaging methods. Traditionally, the data generated by this method is presented in the magnitude mode, but significant improvements in resolution and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are expected if the data can be phase corrected and presented in the absorption mode. A method to simply and reliably determine and correct phase shifts in Fourier transform ion mobility mass spectrometry data using information readily available to any user is presented and evaluated for both small molecule and intact protein analyses with no modification to instrument hardware or experimental procedures. Additionally, the effects of apodization and zero padding are evaluated for both processing methods, and a strategy to use these techniques to reduce acquisition times is presented and evaluated. Resolution is improved by an average factor of 1.6, the SNR is improved by an average factor of 1.2, and acquisition times are reduced by up to 80% through the application of absorption mode processing combined with apodization and zero padding.