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Mass Spectrometry

Mass Spectrometry

Furman has four research-grade mass spectrometers available for use in support of departmental and external needs for analysis. Typical volatile organosolutes may be characterized using the Varian GC-MS ion-trap systems, which have MS/MS capability, full NIST library searching and a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sampling interface. Less volatile samples, organic and inorganic ionic compounds, proteins and DNA oligomers up to 20,000 Daltons may be separated and characterized using the Waters Micromass ZQ LC-MS system, equipped with switchable electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources capable of both + and - ionization.  Typical applications of ICP-MS include quantitation of trace-metal cations in surface waters.

Furman Chemistry Students must be trained and individually approved to use any of the departmental MS facilities (see Dr. John Wheeler/Dr. Sandy Wheeler).  Requests for use by external academic and non-academic institutions are facilitated through Dr. Sandy Wheeler.



Mass Spectrometers

Waters Alliance 2695 LC / Waters Micromass ZQ Mass Spectrometer
  • Acquired 2003 through NIH-BRIN funding to support biomedical research
  • ESI and APCI Ionization Sources, 0-2,000 amu quadrapole detector
  • HPLC system with Waters 2487 Dual Wavelength Absorbance Detector
  • Capable of Direct Infusion Sample Introduction
  • Pentium 4 Data Station with Windows XP Professional, MassLynx 4.0
  • Recent Applications: Characterization of DNA/metal interaction, analysis of antibiotics and environmental estrogens in surface water, industrial consults
 

Varian Saturn 2000 Ion Trap GC/MS/MS
Saturn 2000 GC/MS/MS
  • Acquired 2001
  • Dual Column Capability with separate FID detection
  • SPME/Varian CP8200 Autosampler
  • Data Station with Windows 98SE, Varian GC/MS Workstation 5.51
  • Recent Applications: development of protocols for measuring volatiles (e,g., MTBE) in surface water and forensic analysis of fire debris using SPME/GC-MS

Varian Saturn 2100 GC/MS
  • Acquired 2001
  • Principally used for routine synthetic support
  • Data Station with Windows 98SE, Varian GC/MS Workstation 5.51
  • Recent Applications: forensic analysis, development of measurement protocols for assaying OTC drugs of abuse via SPME/GC-MS
   

Perkin-Elmer Elan 6100 ICP/MS

  • Acquired 2005 from Centers for Disease Control (2001 Model)
  • Capable of Ultratrace Analysis
  • Data Station with Windows XP Professional
  • Recent Applications: trace-level analysis of metals in surface water and biota