Mass Spectrometry

Instruments in the UWO Department of Chemistry

Also check out the site of the UWO Biological Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry

Doug Hairsine operating the Finnigan MAT 8200

The Chemistry Department has a Finnigan MAT 8200 instrument for high resolution mass spectrometry and structure confirmation of organic and inorganic species. A resolution of > 10,000 (at 10% valley) can be achieved on this instrument. The spectrometer has a mass range (m/z) of up to 8400. Metastable ion analysis is enhanced by the use of collision chambers located in both the first and second field free regions.

Samples can be analyzed using various modes of ionization

Electron impact (EI);
Chemical ionization (CI);
Fast Atom Bombardment (FAB)

and samples can be introduced in a variety of ways;

solid sample probe - from 18 C to 400 C
Direct Exposure Probe (DIP)/direct chemical ionization probe (DCI)
gas inlet
gas chromatography

This instrument is run as a sample service in the Chemistry Department; primarily for internal use but also for other research groups at UWO. It is also available to industry and government agencies at a reasonable cost.

For more information about fees and availability contact Doug Hairsine at 519-661-2111 ext. 86323 or mailto:scidwh@uwo.ca

Electrospray Mass Spectrometry (ESI MS)

PE-Sciex API 365

Our electrospray PE-Sciex API 365 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer has a mass range (m/z) of up to 3000. It can be used for studies on a wide variety of analytes, including proteins, peptides and lipids. In MS/MS mode the API 365 can perform product ion scans, precursor ion scans, and neutral loss scans. When operated in conjunction with a stopped-flow sample injection system the instrument can be used for kinetic studies. Currently our instrument at UWO is the only mass spectrometer worldwide that has this capability. For more information please visit the home page of the Konermann Laboratory.

Micromass LCT

In addition, our Department has recently acquired a Micromass LCT (electrospray time-of-flight) mass spectrometer. The purchase of this instrument became possible through a CRC-CFI grant to Dick Puddephatt. The instrument has a mass range of (m/z) 10,000 at a resolution of 5,000.

Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI MS)

Bruker Daltonics Reflex IV

Our Bruker Daltonics Reflex IV is a top-of-the-line research grade MALDI time-of-flight (TOF) instrument equipped with a linear/reflectron mass analyzer and post-source decay (PSD) capability. Its primary application is in proteomics, where it is used in combination with capillary electrophoresis. The extended mass range detector provides enhanced sensitivity up to m/z of 300,000 which is ideal for the nano-liter sample size of capillary electrophoresis. The resolution in reflectron mode is > 20,000. This instrument was funded through a CFI New Opportunities grant to Ken Yeung.

Micromass/Waters LC-MS/MS system

Another CRC-CFI grant to Lars Konermann allowed the acquisition of a Micromass/Waters Q-TOF Ultima LC-MS/MS system. This instrument can operate in "V" and in "W" reflectron mode and is capable of producing mass spectra at a resolution of up to 20,000 (FWHM).