Mass Spectrometry Facility
The Mass Spectrometry Facility at Keele University is run in collaboration with Guy Hilton Research Centre (GHRC) and the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry. We provide proteomics and mass spectrometry services for UK based researchers, engage in research collaborations and implement current technologies in facility services.
Keele has invested in a variety of mass spectrometers with complementary analytical capabilities, together with HPLC equipment to provide upstream separation for enhanced sensitivity and automation.
Keele’s mass spectrometry facility is housed in the Lennard Jones Laboratories (School of Chemical and Physical Sciences).
There are a number of groups using mass spectrometry as their primary analytical method.
Lennard-Jones Laboratories
The Waters ZQ is a single quadrupole instrument with a mass range up to 2000D. Whilst we do have an electrospray source for this instrument for comparative purposes, it is normally set up for ambient mass spectrometry in the form of PADI-MS. For this technique a cold (He-) plasma source is replacing the ESI source, allowing direct analysis of solids and liquids without prior sample preparation.
The Thermo LTQ-Orbitrap instrument is on loan from AstraZeneca for collaborative work to investigate the use of ambient mass spectrometry in the form of PADI-MS for rapid analysis of a range of pharmaceutically relevant samples. The instrument is as standard equipped with an electrospray source, which can rapidly be replaced by a low temperature (He-) plasma source for PADI-MS operation. In this technique the plasma is used to directly ionise and volatilise the analyte without prior sample preparation. The LTQ-Orbitrap has a choice of linear quadrupole trap for tandem MS and highly sensitive detection, with an Orbitrap facility should high mass resolution be required.
The NexION 300D represents the current generation of ICP-MS instrumentation, it is capable of measuring single or multiple elements in a single analysis down to part-per-trillion concentrations. This particular model is equipped with a Universal Cell that can be used to remove isobaric interferences using either a reactive or non-reactive gas. This instrument can be configured for both conventional infusion and elemental speciation analysis.
For a video describing the operation of this instrument see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-FYh2z9mi0
For further information on this instrument please contact David Thompson
The ThermoFisher TSQ Vantage can be used for the structural determination and quantification of a wide range of molecules. It is equipped with an Ion Max source and a Heated Electrospray (HESI) source, this is coupled to a dedicated ThermoFisher LC system complete with a temperature controlled autosampler.
For further information on this instrument please contact David Thompson or see: http://www.textronica.com/lcline/vantage_spec_sheet.pdf
Contact us
Dr Falko Drijfhout
Senior Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry
- Lennard-Jones: 1.36
- +44 (0)1782 733043
- f.drijfhout@keele.ac.uk
Dr David Thompson
Lecturer in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry
- Lennard-Jones: 1.49
- +44 (0)1782 734954
- d.f.thompson@keele.ac.uk
Dr Sarah Hart
Senior Lecturer in Bioscience
- +44 (0) 1782 733759
- s.r.hart@keele.ac.uk