ALERT Instrumentation

Sample preparation is a time-consuming, challenging aspect of nearly all chemical analyses. This is particularly true in complex environmental samples and engineered materials.  The newest addition to RENEW’s shared laboratory facilities, a state-of-the-art Combustion Ion Chromatography system, eliminates the need for intricate sample processing steps for the analysis of common ions.  The system utilizes a high-temperature furnace to combust and extract ions directly from samples and separates them using ion chromatography.  The system allows for rapid and sensitive determination of ions such as fluoride, chloride, bromide, nitrites and nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates.  This instrument is capable of routine detection down to low part per billion (ppb) levels and has broad applicability across research disciplines.

The hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap enables both targeted and non-targeted screening and characterization of volatile compounds. Sample components are separated by GC and ionized by electron-impact for in-source fragmentation, or chemical ionization for soft-ionization.

The Orbitrap provides high resolution and mass accuracy for the determination of unknown compounds. Sample components are separated by UHPLC, and analytes are desolvated and ionized by an ESI source. Within the Orbitrap, ions pass through a single quadrupole, and into the Obritrap where packets of ions orbit around an electrode, and their frequency is recorded. The high-resolving power of the Orbitrap allows for the determination of the exact mass for each ion, permitting the determination of unknown compounds. Using exact mass, spectral database comparison, and commercial standards, unknowns can be proven with varying degrees of certainty. Both suspect screening and untargeted analyses are possible on the Orbitrap instrument.

These instruments offer selectivity and sensitivity to LC/MS/MS analysis. After separation of sample components by HPLC, the analytes are desolvated and ionized by an ESI source. Triple quadrupole mass spectrometers consist of two mass filtering quadrupoles centered by a quadrupole that acts as a collision cell. As collisions occur with an inert gas, typically nitrogen or argon, the molecular ions become fragmented, which provides structural information. Fragments are characteristic to each analyte and provide enhanced specificity when identifying analytes.

The Thermo Scientific TSQ Quantum XLS offers maximum precision and sensitivity to gas chromatography (GC)/MS analysis. After separation of a sample into its components by GC, the components are transferred to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer through an electron ionization (EI) or chemical ionization (CI) source. Furthermore, this instrument contains an electron capture detector (ECD), which is beneficial for detecting halogenated compounds in addition to MS. Our group has used the TSQ to replicate the capabilities of much more expensive instrumentation.

ICP-MS is an analytical technique that enables the determination of trace elements. It is known for its wide elemental coverage, low detection limits, fast analysis times, wide analytical working range, and isotopic capabilities. The ICP/MS is equipped with an advanced H2/He collision cell technology (CCT). This instrument enables the analysis of a wide range of elements, with detection limits ranging from ppt to ppb concentrations. With the inclusion of CCT, elements that are traditionally difficult to analyze can be detected at very low levels by removal of gas-based and matrix-based polyatomic interferences through collisional retardation/differential transmission (kinetic energy discrimination). Our ICP-MS is also equipped with a 213 nm laser ablation system and an HPLC system that can be coupled with the ICP-MS.