High resolution ion mobility mass spectrometer with ultra high performance liquid chromatography

• Subject Area: Biological Chemistry and Food Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 563291445

We aim to acquire an analytical system consisting of an ultra high performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a high resolution ion mobility tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC-IMS-HRMS/MS). The UHPLC should include a binary high pressure gradient pump, an autosampler with temperature-controlled samples compartment and a temperature-controlled column compartment with switching valve. The mass spectrometer needs to feature high resolution, high mass accuracy and high sensitivity to acquire accurate molecular masses and tentative formulas even for low abundant compounds. By tandem mass spectrometry, diagnostic fragment spectra will be generated for improved compound identification. The combination with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) shall be used for cleaner spectra and as an additional separation dimension for isomers. A high IMS resolution and the integration into general analytical workflows is an important technical aspect. Finally, appropriate software for data analysis and interpretation is an essential part of the whole system. The principal applications of this system are in the untargeted analysis of lipids and other small molecules in food and other complex biological matrices. The focus is on the changes of food lipids during processing and the comprehensive analysis of oxidised lipids generated in this context. These oxidised lipids will be systematically analysed to better understand their formation pathways and occurrence in food, with special care for isomers and their separation by IMS. Comprehensive analysis of food lipids to ensure food safety and quality as well as the analysis of rare lipid structures, tocochromanols in biological samples as well as food-relevant contaminants are further foci.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochauflösendes Ionenmobilitäts-Tandemmassenspektrometer mit Ultrahochleistungsflüssigchromatograph
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Hohenheim
• Leader: Professor Dr. Simon Hammann