A Q-Tof API-US™ (Micromass/Waters) mass spectrometer with electrospray and APCI inlets (Z-spray, Lockspray, Nanospray, APCI) is our main research instrument. This instrument was installed in McLean 408 in August, 2002.

TofSpec-2ETM -(Micromass/Waters) mass spectrometer.  This is a compact high performance Time of Flight (TOF) mass spectrometer for the separation of ions produced by the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) technique.  The instrument is particularly suited to the characterization of subpicomole quantities of biomolecules and synthetic polymers with molecular weights ranging from 500 Da to greater than 500 KDa. This instrument was installed in McLean 408 in November, 2002.

A Quattro I-(Micromass) mass spectrometer (This instrument is in operation in McLean 409 since November, 2002).

A triple quadrupole tandem instrument which can detect both negative and positive ions is our main teaching mass spectrometer. Both analyzers of this instrument have a mass range of m/z 2-4000. The instrument is usually operated in electrospray-ionization mode. Samples dissolved in a solvent such acetonitrile/water or methanol/water can be infused directly.

MS/MS measurements such as product (daughter) ion, precursor (parent) ion, constant neural loss (CNL) scans are conducted routinely. An ion selected by the first quadrupole can be fragmented by collision with a gas such as argon, and the product ions formed can be determined by the second analyzer.

The configuration can be changed to LC-MS, APCI, EI/CI, or GC-MS modes when necessary.

A Hewlett-Packard mass spectrometer (HP5989 MS Engine)

This general purpose instrument is equipped with a gas chromatograph and a direct inlet probe.  Samples can be analyzed using electron ionization as well as positive and negative chemical ionization (using methane or isobutane) modes.

A Shimadzu GC-MS (QP-5050A)

The GCMS-QP5050A EI/CI system has a mass range of 10-900 AMU.  Samples which are not amenable to GC analysis can be introduced directly into the ion chamber using the DI-50 probe.

A Hewlett-Packard Mass Selective Detector (HP5970 MSD)

This is out teaching instrument.  All undergraduates taking the instrumental analysis course get hands-on experience on this instrument.

Bourne Scientific FT-IR  Detective

This is not a mass spectrometer, but a very unique GC-FTIR instrument.  GC effluent is condensed on a liquid-nitrogen cooled zinc selenide (ZnSe) window.  The sensitivity is as good as that obtained from a GC-MS.