Mass Spectrometry
Service Manager: Dr Jackie Mosely
Mass Spectrometry is a technique widely recognized for its high sensitivity and specificity. Accurate mass measurement (< 2 ppm) performed with high resolving power (> 100,000 FWHH) enables confirmation of empirical formulae whilst tandem MS supports structural elucidation. Complex mixtures can be simplified by appropriate on-line chromatographic separation (GC or LC).
The Durham Mass Spectrometry Service houses a suite of state-of-the-art instruments with overall functionality designed to handle any MS or tandem MS application. Whilst providing a leading service to the Department of Chemistry we enjoy collaborating with many local and national companies, offering a fast MS analytical service for low resolution screening and accurate mass measurements. Opportunities for joint research projects exist in the form of joint PDRA fellowships, PhD studentships, MSc projects (based in industry or at the University) and summer vacation placements.
Instrumentation
GC and direct solids probe MS for volatile and thermally stable molecules
- Waters Xevo QTOF equipped with Atmospheric Pressure Gas Chromatography (APGC) and Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP)
- Thermo-Finnigan Trace GCMS (EI and CI ion sources)
Solution inlet API MS for larger molecules that may be labile or relatively involatile
- Thermo-Finnigan LTQ FT (7.0 T magnet) equipped with Surveyor HPLC. Ion sources include ESI, dynamic nanospray, static nanospray and MALDI. Instrument has Collision Induced Dissociation (CID) and Electron Capture Dissociation (ECD) tandem MS capabilities.
- Waters LCT Premier XE equipped with Acquity UPLC and a lock-mass electrospray ion source.
- Waters TQD equipped with Acquity UPLC and an electrospray ion source.
- Waters Xevo QTOF with a lock-mass electrospray ion source.
- Waters LCT Classic equipped with Alliance HPLC, electrospray (ES) and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation (APCI) ion sources.
- Waters QToF Premier equipped with Acquity UPLC and a lock-mass electrospray ion source.
MALDI TOF MS for extremely large molecules (up to 250,000 Da) and polymeric distributions
- Applied Biosystems Voyager-DE STR
- Bruker Daltonics Autoflex II ToF/ToF
Services Available
Durham University Mass Spectrometry Service is capable of handling both solid samples and sample solutions. The range of inherently sensitive techniques provides a breadth of analytical information from confirmation of compound identify through to structural characterisation and quantification.
- GCMS and GCMS/MS capable of low resolution screening or accurate mass measurement.
- Atmospheric pressure Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) capable of low resolution screening or accurate mass measurement.
- LCMS and LCMSn capable of low resolution screening or accurate mass measurement. Fragmentation techniques available include Collision-Induced Dissociation (CID) and Electron-Capture Dissociation (ECD).
- Flow injection or direct infusion atmospheric pressure ionisation, including ESI and APCI, capable of low resolution screening or accurate mass measurement.
- MALDI ToF and MALDI ToF/ToF analyses