Analysis of Small Molecules with amaZon: Enhanced Sensitivity, Speed, and Dynamic Range
Application Notebook
The amaZon series is the next step in Bruker Daltonics' family of ion trap mass spectrometers.
Darwin Asa, Bruker Daltonics, Inc.
The amaZon series is the next step in Bruker Daltonics' family of ion trap mass spectrometers. Incorporating a number of new innovations to Bruker's highly successful ion trap technology platforms, the amaZon series is a true leap forward in performance and reliability.
Figure 1: Direct injection of 50â750 fg Reserpine. Even at 50 fg in MS-MS mode, the amaZon is able to achieve at 50:1 S/N. Note also the excellent reproducibility in these 5 replicate injections.
Building upon Bruker's vast foundation of expertise with ion traps, the amaZon series of instruments features a number of key performance enhancements including:
- Greater than 10× sensitivity improvement over previous generation systems
- Outstanding mass resolution of up to 20,000
- Extraordinarily broad mass range from 50 to 3,000 m/z
- Rapid scan speeds of up to 52,000 μs allowing full compatibility with fast separation techniques
- The very latest in ETD/PTR technology for analysis of post translational modifications of peptides or proteins
- High speed ion polarity switching for handling difficult or complex samples
- Comprehensive MSn spectral libraries for easy molecular formula determinations
Figure 2: Dynamic range of amaZon. In this example 1â10,000 ppb of melamine on column was measured by the amaZon. This correlates to at least 4 orders of magnitude dynamic range with outstanding linearity.
The amaZon series is available in 3 versions:
amaZon ETD for protein analysis.
amaZon X for all protein and small molecule applications.
amaZon SL for small molecule and protein applications at a value price.
Designed for key applications in chemical reaction yield and purity determinations, proteomics, protein and glycan analysis, metabolomics, compound screening, and compound identification, the amaZon series is the top performing ion trap available today.
Figure 3: Speed of amaZon. In this example, a compound in plasma separated by UPLC with a 1 s peak width is measured at 20 Hz in positive and negative ion mode with "zero delay" alternating ionization switching.
The performance of the amaZon X Ion Trap System has been tested in terms of sensitivity, speed, and dynamic range for small molecule analysis. It has been shown that the amaZon is easily capable of detecting low femtagrams of a small molecule on column. The amaZon also displays at least four orders of magnitude dynamic range when quantitating small molecules in the ppb to ppm range. The instrument also possesses the capability to do "zero delay" polarity switching, even at UPLC separation speeds. All of these attributes demonstrate the high performance capabilities of the amaZon and demonstrate it's suitability for deployment in a number of small molecule analysis areas.
Bruker Daltonics, Inc.
40 Manning Road, Billerica, MA 01821
tel. (978) 663-3660; fax (978) 667-5993
Website: www.bdal.com
A Life Measured in Peaks: Honoring Alan George Marshall (1944–2025)
June 18th 2025A pioneer of FT-ICR Mass Spectrometry, Alan G. Marshall (1944–2025), is best known for co-inventing Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS), a transformative technique that enabled ultrahigh-resolution analysis of complex mixtures. Over a career spanning more than five decades at institutions like the University of British Columbia, The Ohio State University, and Florida State University, he published over 650 peer-reviewed papers and mentored more than 150 scientists. Marshall’s work profoundly impacted fields ranging from astrobiology to petroleomics and earned him numerous prestigious awards and fellowships. Revered for his intellect, mentorship, and dedication to science, he leaves behind a legacy that continues to shape modern mass spectrometry.
