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Mass Spectrometry

The department possesses two magnetic sector instruments, a VG AutoSpec and a Waters Autospec NT. The VG instrument is equipped with a fast atom bombardment (FAB) and an electron ionization (EI) source with solid probe insertion. The Waters Autospec NT instrument is equipped with an EI source, using GC (HP6890) inlet or solid probe insertion for sample introduction.  The Waters AutoSpec NT is a high resolution instrument, performing elemental analysis for small organic compounds routinely.

 

Qiaoli Liang, Mass Spectrometry Facility Manager, using the Waters Autospec NT High Resolution Mass Spectrometer
  The Department has a new Bruker Ultraflex time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is used to vaporize and ionize samples, which are generally low-volatility compounds such as biomolecules, polymers, and inorganic materials. The mass spectrometer has PSD (post-source decay) capabilities that can be used to sequence biomolecules.

The Department also has a Bruker HCTUltra PTM discovery system connected to an Agilent 1200 capillary LC.  This instrument is a state-of-the-art spherical high capacity quadrupole ion trap.  The HCTUltra PTM instrument has electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and nanoelectrospray sources.  For obtaining structural information (including peptide sequencing), the MS/MS techniques of collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) are available.

 

Graduate student Samamtha Bokatzian-Johnson with the Bruker HCTUltra PTM discovery system

Services

  • EI-MS: Low resolution, nominal mass accuracy
    • High resolution, with internal reference (typically PFK), 5 ppm accuracy
    • For small volatile organic compounds (<1000Da)
  • FAB-MS: Low resolution, nominal mass accuracy
    • For small polar or ionic compounds (<2000Da), such as organometallics and ionic liquid
  • GC-MS: Low resolution, nominal mass accuracy
  • High resolution, with internal reference (typically PFK), 5 ppm accuracy
    • For small volatile organic compounds (<1000Da)
    • House GC capillary column: DB-5, 29m´250mm´0.5mm
  • MALDI-MS: Linear TOF, low resolution, <150 ppm external clibration, <100 ppm for
    • internal calibration
    • Reflector TOF, high resolution, <25 ppm external calibration, <5 ppm internal calibration
    • Wide applications including: biomolecules, polymers, aromatic compound, inorganic material, etc. 
  • ESI, APCI, nanoESI-MS: low resolution, mass error within 0.2 Da
    • For small molecules (>50Da) or macromolecules (m/z of the multiply charged ions<3000Da)
    • Wide applications including: biomolecules, organics, polymers, etc.
  • LC-MS: low resolution, mass error within 0.2 Da
    • House capillary LC column: Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18, 150´0.5 mm, 5mm
    • Mostly used for peptides

Mass spectrometry sample submission forms

Please contact Facility Manager, Dr. Qiaoli Liang for consultation and assistance.
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