Introduction

Mass Spectrometry is an analytical technique based on the production of gas-phase ions from atoms or molecules which are then separated according to their mass-to-charge ratio, and finally measured. It is widespread for the analysis of compounds with known mass spectrum (target analysis) and of completely unknown compounds (untarget analysis). Mass spectrometry is generally used in combination with several separation techniques such as: Gas Chromatography (GC), Liquid Chromatography (LC) or Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP).

The Mass Spectrometry Laboratory is located on the first floor of the Science Building 3 and is equipped with the following instruments:

LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPH - MASS SPECTROMETER (LC-MS) (QSight 220 LC-MS/MS, PerkinElmer)

In Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry, analytes in a sample are first separated from each other and from potential interfering components by liquid chromatography (LC) and then identified and quantified by mass analyser.

Available LC-MS is equipped with double ionization source: Electrospray Ionization (ESI) and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) both with double polarity probes. The analyser is a triple quadrupole mass filter with very high sensitivity, specificity and selectivity.

It is able to perform quantitative target analysis on organic compounds with medium/high polarity.

GAS CHROMATOGRAPH - MASS SPECTROMETER (GC-MS) (Pegasus BT GC-TOFMS, LECO)

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry is a hyphenated technique developed from coupling of gas chromatographic separation with power detection of a mass analyser. It is an important technique for separation and identification of volatile compounds, thermally stable with a low molecular weight.

In the available GC-MS the ionization method is represented by Electronic Ionization (EI) using electrons emitted from a heated filament.

The analyser is a Time of Flight (TOF): this type of mass analyser has no mass upper limit, making it ideal for identifying unknown compounds but also for quantifying target compounds in complex matrices. It is also able to detect compounds with a wide range of molecular weights.

Pegasus BT GC/TOFMS - LECO

INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETER (ICP-MS) (NexION 2000 ICP-MS, PerkinElmer)

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry is an analytical technique used for elemental determination. It measures most of the elements in periodic table at very low concentrations. It uses plasma as ionization source and mass spectrometer analyser to detect ions. NexION’s mass analyser is a triple quadrupole characterized by a Quadrupole Ion Deflector (QID) which prevents neutral species and photons from reaching the detector, and a patented Universal Cell Technology (UCT), designed to offer unmatched   flexibility for the removal of isobaric interferences.

The hyphenation with HPLC NexSAR 200 system allows to develop several methods for simultaneous speciation of trace elements.

It can perform semi-quantitative analysis, quantitative analysis and isotope dilution experiments.

NexION 2000  ICP-MS – Perkin Elmer