Department of Chemistry

Mass Spectrometry Facility

The Mass Spectrometry Facility in the Chemistry Department provides support for the analysis of a wide range of molecules using mass spectrometry based techniques, including a suite of modern instrumentation.

Operation

The Mass Spectrometry facility is available to all faculty, post-doc researchers, graduate and undergraduate students. Most facility instruments are available in an open-access manner to trained users. For research projects that required extensive mass spectrometric analysis, please schedule time with our Mass Spectrometer Specialist to discuss specific mass spec needs, instrument capabilities, and receive training for the most effective use of the mass spec facility. Assistance will be provided with data interpretation, sample preparation, experimental designs, and methods development.

Mass Spectrometer Specialist

Submit Samples

Users may submit samples for mass analysis using the Mass Spectrometry Request Form or in GeoChem 408 for sample submission. 

Mass Spectrometry Request Form

Instrumentation

Machines3

The facility maintains two GC-MS, three LC-MS, MALDI-MS, and a standalone HPLC system.

The mass spectrometers offer electron impact (EI), electrospray (ESI), atmospheric chemical ionization (APCI), and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) ionization modes that cover a variety of analytes of interest. Available software resources include instrument control and data analysis programs Xcalibur, MassHunter, ChemStation, SpectrumMill, Bioworks/Sequest. Routine mass spectrometric measurements performed in the facility include HRMS molecular formula confirmation, structural elucidation by MSn tandem mass spectrometry, qualitative as well as quantitative analysis of small molecules: synthetic intermediates, natural products, metabolites, and organometallics.

For macromolecules, we offer mass analysis of synthetic polymers, peptides and purified intact recombinant proteins and synthetic oligonucleotides. 

Training Material can be found here.

Contact Information

For questions about the Mass Spectrometry facility and its instrumentation, please email Adrienne Roehrich, Ph.D., Core Facilities Manager.