Mass Spectrometry
Facility
Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The Facility provides
structural elucidation of individual compounds and complex
mixtures by a variety of mass spectrometry methods for the
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and outside users. In addition
to the mass spectral service, we are working on a variety
of research projects including various fields in gas phase
ion/neutral chemistry, proteomics, and mass spectrometry of
polymers.
Currently four
instruments are available for analyses and research projects.
A sector (BE) VG
Analytical ZAB-2F mass spectrometer is operating
in EI and CI modes. It is used for accurate mass measurements
for volatile compounds having molecular masses of <700
Da. The resolving power of the instrument is up to 10,000
and the accuracy of mass measurements is 0.002-0.004 Da. The
mass spectrometer has been modified for tandem mass spectrometry
experiments. It is used for recording metastable ion and collision-induced
dissociation mass spectra of mass-selected ions. A unique
feature of the instrument is its capability of carrying out
neutralization-reionization experiments aiming at the generation
and characterization of neutrals having unusual atom connectivities.
A Shimadzu
QP5050 quadrupole mass spectrometer has a solids
insertion probe and is interfaced with a gas chromatograph.
The instrument is used for recording low-resolution electron
impact (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of individual
(solid, liquid, and gaseous) compounds and for GC/MS analyses
of mixtures.
A time-of-flight
Micromass Tof Spec 2E mass spectrometer has
the capability of obtaining matrix assisted laser desorption
ionization (MALDI) mass spectra. This instrument can be used
for detection of high molecular weight compounds, like proteins
and polymers, and for determination of their elemental composition
(high resolution accurate mass measurements). Structures of
ions can be characterized by recording their metastable (post-source
decay) or collision-induced dissociation mass spectra.
An Agilent1100
Series LC/MSD system consists of an ion trap mass
spectrometer and a HPLC. The mass spectrometer is equipped
with electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical
ionization (APCI) ion sources and is able to operate in positive
and negative ion modes. Samples can be analyzed by direct
injection into the ion source or following separation using
high performance liquid chromatography. Both qualitative and
quantitative analyses are available by using full scan, single
ion or selected reaction monitoring. A variety of tandem mass
spectrometry experiments can be performed with ions produced
by ESI and APCI methods.
IMPORTANT
NOTICE for current and future users of the Mass Spectrometry
Facility.
Before planning the use of the Facility for research or analytical
purposes, or applying for grants, please consult with us about
our requirements and your time needs. That way we can best
match your goals with available methods or we will determine
if any additional equipment needs to be acquired.
The Facility is
located in rooms 216/215 Cogswell Lab.
For all questions
please contact:
Dr.
Dmitri Zagorevski, Mass Spectrometry Facility Director
Ph. 518-276-2149
(office) or 518-276-4026 (lab)
e-mail: ZagorD@rpi.edu
