LCMS Methanol with 0.1% Formic Acid v/v is a solvent mixture used in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS, also LC-MS) analysis, primarily to improve the ionization efficiency of analytes by providing protons through the added formic acid, leading to better detection and peak shapes during analysis. It is a pre-mixed mobile phase for LCMS applications where the methanol acts as the primary solvent and the small amount of formic acid aids in ionization. 

Key points about LCMS Methanol with 0.1% Formic Acid v/v

Function of Formic Acid: The small percentage of formic acid acts as an acidic modifier, providing protons to facilitate the ionization of molecules in the positive ion mode, especially for polar or basic compounds. 

Application in LCMS: ProteoChem’s LCMS Methanol with 0.1% Formic Acid v/v solvent mixture is often used in the preparation of mobile phases for LCMS systems in a wide variety of applications, including pharmaceutical analysis, proteomics (peptides/proteins), metabolomics, small molecules, metabolites and environmental testing.

Benefits

Convenience: Pre-mixed solutions eliminate the need to manually add and dilute formic acid into methanol, simplifying mobile phase preparation. 

Improved Ionization: Formic acid helps enhance the signal-to-noise ratio by improving ionization efficiency. Formic acid acts as an ion-pairing agent and can enhance ionization of analytes, especially for compounds that may have poor ionization in electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. It can also help with the stability of the ionization process.

Better Peak Shape: The addition of formic acid can sometimes lead to sharper and more defined peaks in the chromatogram. 

Maintain pH: The acidic environment created by formic acid can help to maintain the pH of the mobile phase, promoting the stability of sensitive analytes and aiding in their retention and separation during chromatographic analysis.

Improve Separation: The addition of formic acid can modify the polarity of the solvent, which may influence the retention and separation of compounds on the chromatographic column, allowing for better resolution in LCMS.