Mass Spectroscopy Facilities

The department maintains a Hewlett-Packard coupled gas chromatograph - mass spectrometer (GC-MS) system. This system, which is capable of operation in both electron impact (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) modes, allows for the rapid identification and quantification of mixtures containing nonpolar and moderately polar compounds. The department has recently expanded its mass spectral capabilities with the acquisition of a Finnigan electrospray mass spectrometer. This instrument, which is coupled to a high-pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) system, allows the separation, quantitation, and identification of highly polar charged molecules ranging in size from small to large organic ions, including proteins and nucleic acids.