Our laboratory are equipped with several liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) systems. Each system is coupled with a unique detection system, including low or high resolution mass spectrometry, which makes it possible to analyse a broad range of organic chemicals in samples of various origins. In addition to identification and quantitation of chemicals, development of new methodology is an integral part of the services provided by our laboratory.
Our high performance liquid chromatograph system is equipped with both a general purpose UV detector and highly sensitive and selective fluorescence detector (HPLC-UV/Flu). The system is typically used for the analysis of a wide variety of water soluble compounds within natural samples (e.g. water, soil and plants) or used in degradation or sorption studies. Typical applications include PAH analysis for bioremediation and sorption experiments, plant pigments and toxins, (degradation products of) herbicides and fullerenes, and phenolic acids within soil.
Our triple-quadrupole like LC-MS/MS system is used for quantitative monitoring of a wide variety of chemicals in the environment. The system is equipped with a highly selective and sensitive tandem mass spectrometer (MS/MS), which can be utilized with different ionization techniques (ESI, APCI and APPI) to analyse a wide range of chemicals. Typical analyses within IBED include monitoring of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) within water, food and plant material, degradation studies of fullerenes, aryl organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) and several herbicides, monitoring of azaarenes and azaarones within sediment, and the analysis of amino acids within soil.
A recent addition to our chromatography facilities is our ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time of flight (UPLC-QTOF) system. The combination of high chromatographic resolution, mass resolving power and mass accuracy, MS/MS and isotopic pattern fingerprinting, allows this instrument to identify and characterize chemicals even within complex sample material. The system can be equipped with several ion sources (ESI, APCI, APPI and IonBooster). Furthermore, Direction Injection Probe (DIP) can be used for direct analysis of both solid and liquid samples. Recent work includes the characterization of (degraded) perfluorinated polymers and screening for degradation products of aryl organophosphorus flame retardants.
GC-MS system with both cold-on-column and split/splitless injectors and the possibility to perform headspace and large volume analysis. Equipped with PAL autosampler.
Used for the analysis of phospholipid fatty acids, lignin, volatile organic compounds such as BTEX, pesticides, brominated flame retardants, PCB’s etc.
GC-MS system with cold-on-column injection and curie-point pyrolysis.
Used for the analysis of free lipids for biomarker research e.g. sterol- and stanol analysis as manure biomarkers, cutin and suberin , brominated flame retardants etc.
Pyrolisis is used to characterize soil organic matter and plant material. With the pyrolizor unit it is also possible to perform thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation.
Used for the analyses of permanent gasses: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane in gaseous samples originating from field-sites or lab incubation experiments and for the measurement of acetylene and ethylene in incubated samples.
Equipped with PAL autosampler.
In our laboratory we have a Hiden HPR-40 Membrane Inlet Mass spectrometer installed with a mass range of 200 amu (atomic mass unit) with a dissolved species probe. This allows for accurate measurements of a wide range of gasses either in gaseous or dissolved in liquid environments. Using stable isotopes specific changes in conditions applied can be quantified. The probe is positioned in a specialised cuvette. Typical applications of the MIMS in our lab are: