MT Explorer 30 (MTE30)
High-performance ion trap MS for laboratory and field-deployable chemical analysis
MT Explorer 30 (MTE30)
Portable 3D Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry for Field and Laboratory Use
The MT Explorer 30 (MTE30) is MassTech’s third-generation portable, field-deployable 3D ion trap mass spectrometer with an atmospheric pressure interface. Designed from the ground up for compact size, reduced weight, and ease of service, the MTE30 delivers laboratory-level mass spectrometry performance in real-world environments.
Building on decades of development and experience with the MT100 and MT50 platforms, the MTE30 provides advanced MSⁿ capabilities in a system engineered for portability, flexibility, and reliability.
Key Advantages
- Fully portable — Designed for on-site analysis or seamless integration into mobile laboratory environments
- Versatile sample introduction — Supports both chemical and biological analysis on a single unified platform
- Rapid workflow switching — Transition between chemical and biological workflows in minutes without system reconfiguration
- Direct sample introduction — Enables analysis with little to no sample preparation required
- Low-cost, minimal maintenance — Eliminates the need for expensive gases and reduces ongoing operational costs
- Flexible power operation — Runs on AC/DC power (up to 250 W) or battery for true field autonomy
Ionization Source Flexibility
The MTE30 is designed to seamlessly switch between multiple atmospheric-pressure ionization sources, enabling rapid adaptation to different analytical workflows:
- Electrospray Ionization (ESI)
- Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI)
- Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) Sources
- LC compatibility
The MTE30 source interface is compatible with new-generation Thermo ion sources such as EASY-Spray™ and Nanospray Flex Ion Source.
Robust source compatibilities allow the MTE30 to support a wide range of applications across life sciences, pharmaceuticals, forensics, and applied research.
Designed for Real-World Workflows
Traditional laboratory mass spectrometers rely on large, complex vacuum systems that limit portability. The MTE30 overcomes this limitation through a compact vacuum architecture integrated with MassTech’s proprietary 3D ion trap mass analyzer.
The result is a system that balances performance, portability, and practicality, making advanced molecular analysis accessible beyond the lab.
Typical Applications
- Pharmaceutical Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) testing and Cleaning Validation
- Chemical analysis
- Peptide characterization
- Forensic workflows
- Rapid method development and validation
- CBRNE workflows
Specifications
Key performance and system details at a glance.
- Mass analyzer: 3D quadrupole ion trap
- Mass range: 35–2,000 Da
- Resolution: < 0.5 Da
- Accuracy: < 0.25 Da
- Scan rate: up to 4,000 Da/s
- Throughput: up to 5 spectra/s
- MS/MS & MSⁿ: supported
- Ion modes: positive / negative
Full specifications
- Mass analyzer type: 3D quadrupole ion trap
- Mass range: 35–2,000 Da
- Mass resolution: < 0.5 Da
- Mass accuracy: < 0.25 Da
- Mass scan rate: up to 4,000 Da/s
- Throughput rate: up to 5 spectra/s
- MS/MS and MSⁿ capability: supported
- Ion modes: positive and negative
- Atmospheric pressure interface: heated capillary (up to 300 °C)
- Buffer gas source: metal hydride container (no compressed gas cylinder required)
- Ion sources available: ESI, nanoESI, APCI, secondary ESI (sESI), AP/MALDI, DART, SICRIT
- Control station: laptop PC
- Communications: TCP/IP protocol
- Power requirements: 90–264 VAC adapter or 24 VDC battery (optional)
- Power consumption: 250 W max (MS only)
- Dimensions (MS only): 22 cm (W) × 31 cm (H) × 33 cm (L)
- Weight (MS only): 17 kg
- Transport case dimensions: 30 cm (W) × 42 cm (H) × 55 cm (L)
- Transportation: wheeled protective case
Software
Application Notes
- Small-footprint mass spectrometer for opioid analysis
- Miniature Portable Mass Spectrometer for APCI-MS and MS/MS Analysis of Cannabinols
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- ESI-MS detection of mAb tryptic digest standard with a small-footprint ion trap mass spectrometer
- Advancing Peptide Characterization with a Small-Footprint Mass Spectrometer and HPLC system
- ESI-MS/MS isolation and fragmentation of 4,4’-Difluorobenzophenone with a small-footprint ion trap mass spectrometer
- Low Flow Direct Infusion Mass Spectrometry Using AutoFocusTM