Quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer with DESI imaging and UPLC

• Subject Area: Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry ; Analytical Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 563029411

The requested mass spectrometer is intended to fulfil the diverse requirements of the participating research groups, which focus on natural products, plant and microbial secondary metabolites and synthetic organic chemistry. The aim of all groups is to identify reliably and to quantify target components from complex mixtures, even at trace levels (targeted), and to carry out studies using a non-targeted approach (untargeted). A column changer with a total of 6 column positions is favoured for efficient and seamless analysis. This enables efficient utilisation of the device, even for different questions, which is the aim of the working groups involved in the application. This avoids the installation and removal of the columns with the time-inefficient impairments that usually occur. For the reliable quantification of polyphenols, the PDA detector offers an additional dimension for identification and quantification. Especially for substances in the ≥ ng range in samples, the PDA detector represents a reliable quantitative analysis device. In addition to the ion sources and UPLC equipment, which ensure efficient high-performance operation of the mass spectrometer in the service and the application mode, the DESI-MS imaging technology opens up a completely new possibility for high-resolution localisation of target analytes. This technology is unique in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and will provide the university with a high level of capability in this field. In addition to the DESI source, the application includes an APCI ion source to cover the detection of secondary metabolites in a broad polarity range. This means that non-polar compounds such as carotenoids can be optimally ionised, which is difficult or impossible to achieve using other techniques such as ESI. In addition, a special ion source is also requested. The unique geometry of the ion source enables more efficient ionisation through the generation of smaller droplets and improved desolvation. As a result, a larger number of free ions can be generated, which enables a higher sensitivity and response for a wide range of compounds, especially compared to conventional ionisation modes such as electrospray. Especially with regard to the use of the requested device in an instrument centre, this ion source offers a decisive advantage: it allows the consolidation of several analytical methods, eliminating the need to change sources.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Quadrupol-Flugzeitmassenspektrometer mit DESI-Imaging
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Tuba Esatbeyoglu