Thermo Fisher Scientific Launches First Orbitrap Mass Spectrometers for Isotope Ratio Analysis

Thermo Fisher Scientific recently launched the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Isora mass spectrometer and Orbitrap Isora Pro mass spectrometer in Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. The company stated that these are its first Orbitrap instruments equipped with a dedicated isotope ratio analysis mode.

The two mass spectrometers launched this time will form an integrated workflow together with the Thermo Scientific Vanquish Duo ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system and the new Isotope Discoverer software, providing molecular-level isotope ratio analysis capabilities to laboratories and researchers worldwide.

Isotope ratio analysis can help researchers determine the source of compounds and their formation processes by measuring natural variations in isotopes within samples. The technology can be applied in fields such as environmental science, earth science, biological science, and food authenticity verification—for example, tracing the sources of contaminants like PFAS in watersheds, reconstructing environmental conditions in geological records, or studying how the human body utilizes and transforms nutrients at the molecular level.

Unlike traditional isotope ratio techniques that typically require converting samples into simple gases first, the Orbitrap Isora workflow can measure isotope ratios directly at the molecular level, thereby preserving more structural information. Thermo Fisher Scientific stated that this workflow also integrates steps that previously relied on multiple script tools and manual processing, potentially reducing complex analyses from days to hours.

According to the announcement, the Orbitrap Isora MS and Orbitrap Isora Pro MS combine electrospray ionization (ESI) with high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) detection technology, enabling direct measurement of isotopologues and isotope ratios from intact molecular ions, and capturing multiple isotope information in a single run. Among them, the Orbitrap Isora MS achieves a maximum resolution of up to 240K at m/z 200, while the Orbitrap Isora Pro MS achieves a maximum resolution of up to 480K at m/z 200.

The accompanying Vanquish Duo UHPLC system is used for automated introduction of samples and reference materials, helping to improve the accuracy and reliability of isotope ratio measurements; the Isotope Discoverer software is used for isotope ratio extraction, data filtering, correction, and result output.

Dieter Hofmann, Vice President and General Manager of Applied Analytical Technology at Thermo Fisher Scientific, stated that bringing isotope ratio analysis capabilities to the familiar Orbitrap platform and simplifying previously highly specialized workflows will help more scientists adopt isotope analysis methods, advancing research in human health, environmental, and earth sciences.

According to the release information, the application directions of the Orbitrap Isora workflow include environmental pollution source tracing, geological and climate history reconstruction, bioscience and metabolism research, as well as food and beverage authenticity verification. The company also stated that Orbitrap-based isotope ratio mass spectrometry complements, rather than replaces, its traditional IRMS product portfolio.