In its simplest terms mass spectrometry is a technique for weighing compounds or molecules. This is achieved through an initial stage where the neutral compound becomes charged. This is called ionisation, and once ionised, these species (ions) can be separated using magnetic and/or electric fields.

For individual compounds analysis can be simple, but when dealing with mixtures other technologies are required. The mixtures need to be separated to identify the individual components; this is fundamentally separation science and there are several different ways to undertake this. The most common is called chromatography, which is a method of separating many different forms of chemical mixtures. The combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry affords the most powerful modern-day instrumentation for the analysis of complex mixtures.

This proposal will fund a multiple inlets liquid chromatography mass spectrometer. This instrumentation will deliver advanced automated sample introduction techniques, separation of complex mixtures and advanced high resolution mass spectrometry to aid compound identification.

The inlets will provide seamless integration and automated sample introduction with no constraints on compatible sample types.

Liquid chromatography (one column) will afford separation of components in mixtures but for highly complex mixtures, 2-dimensional chromatography (two columns) are needed. The different columns enhance the separation of individual compounds and will separate of overlapping compounds. Ion mobility will provide another mode of separation based on shape, and finally high resolution mass measurement is used to determine the chemical formulae of compounds, this allows for species with the same nominal mass to be separated by differences in their chemical formulae.

The combination of cutting-edge sample inlets, chromatographic separation and MS capability will deliver qualitative and quantitative analysis of novel and strategically important polar, thermally labile, involatile compounds in complex mixtures and matrices across a range of applications and will be a unique capability within the UK academic sector.

The new strategic equipment will support research across the Southern region. The science from the regional partners (Universities of Bath, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, and Swansea) will develop the capability and subsequently be extended to other academic and industry researchers to form a Centre of Excellence to enable high-priority EPSRC research.