Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry

Contacts
Group head: 
Jiří Malbeck
Centre: 
Lysolaje
Address: 
Rozvojová 263, 165 02 Praha 6 - Lysolaje
Email: 
malbeckatueb [dot] cas [dot] cz
Phone: 
+420 225 106 407, +420 225 106 421

Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry – service department

The laboratory was established in 2007 by separation from the larger research division, in which the laboratory team worked as an analytical unit. From the beginning the laboratory was defined as a service centre performing special instrumental analyses and development of new analytical methods. The main task of the laboratory was to provide these services both to other research groups at the home institution and collaborate with other research institutes and universities as well. Currently, we provide analytical services to other entities in the Czech Republic and abroad.

Laboratory instrumentation

The main part of the laboratory equipment consists of two LC-MS systems, one GC-MS system and one HPLC instrument with fraction collector device.

LC-MS Ion-Trap system

Mass spectrometer: LCQ
Interface: ESI, APCI
Liquid chromatograph: Rheos 2000, quaternary gradient
Auto sampler: CTC HTS Pal, cooled sample stack
Optical detector: DAD 6000
Column oven: Csi 6200c

It is an assembly of an ion-trap (IT) tandem mass spectrometer with a high-performance liquid chromatograph, an auto sampler with a cooled sample tray and alternative optical diode array detector. The optical detector is compatible with other LC-MS system. Mass spectrometer operates with unit resolution and allows for repeated subsequent fragmentation (MRM)

LC-MS Triple-Quad system

Mass spectrometer: TSQ Quantum Ultra AM
Interface: ESI, APCI, APPI
Liquid chromatograph: two Rheos 2200, quaternary gradient
Auto sampler: CTC HTS Pal, cooled sample stack
Column oven: Delta Chrom

It is an assembly of a triple-quad (QQQ) tandem mass spectrometer with two high-performance liquid chromatographs and auto sampler with a cooled sample tray. It can be connected with an optical detector of the previous system.

Triple quadrupole provides MS / MS spectra and depending on its setting can monitor precursors of the selected fragment, neutral loss etc. Due hyperbolic cross of quadrupole rods the mass spectrometer enables to carry out the analysis using a high resolution mode (H-SRM) and accurate mass measurements with an accuracy of 2 ppm. This accuracy helps determine the molecular formula of unknown substances.

GC-MS Ion-Trap system

Mass spectrometer: Polaris Q
Ionisation sources: EI, CI+, CI-
Gas chromatograph: Trace GC, SSL/PTV,
Auto sampler: CTC Combi Pal, Head Space, SPDE

It is an assembly of an ion-trap (IT) tandem mass spectrometer with two-channel gas chromatograph with digital control flow of the carrier gas and two injector ports (SSL and PTV). The mass spectrometer is equipped with an electron (EI) and chemical (CI +, Cl) ionization and allows up to five times repeated fragmentation. Due the variable programmable auto sampler allows analysing both liquid and gaseous samples.

HPLC Agilent 1200 with fraction collector

Pump: quaternary gradient
Auto sampler: variable volume injection, cooling
Column oven: two column, column switching
Detectors: UV, fluorescence
Fraction collector: Gilson FC 203B

This assembly of a high performance liquid chromatograph allows both the classical HPLC analysis (with UV and/or fluorescent detection) and collect chromatographic fractions. The fractions can be used for further analysis (e.g. mass spectrometry).

Other laboratory equipment for sample preparation

  • Microbalance Mettler Toledo XP26
  • Analytical balance Sartorius H110
  • Rotating vacuum concentrator Christ RVC
  • Rotating evaporator Büchi
  • Vacuum SPE manifold
  • Ultrapure water purification system Millipore RiOs 5 / Milli-Q Synthesis A10

We offer

Analytical services

Quantitative determination of specific organic substances in plant and/or other matrix by methods developed on our own.

Examples of analyzes of plant and other matrix:

  1.  Cytokinins including zeatin, isopentenyladenine, benzylaminopurine and their derivatives
  2. Abscisic acid and indolacetic acid
  3. Polyamines (diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, norspermidine, spermine, thermospermine, norspermine)
  4. Phenolic acids (gallic, para-hydroxybenzoic, meta-hydroxybenzoic, salicylic, pyrocatechuic, protocatechuic, gentisic, ortho-coumaric, para-coumaric, vanillic, syringic, sinapic, cinnamic, caffeic, ferulic, anisic, chlorogenic)

Custom analyses

Development of a method according to the customer requirements and subsequent analysis of supplied samples

Determination of unknown substances

Based on the determination of the accurate mass of ions, isotopic profile, fragmentation spectra and other data, it is possible to determine unknown substances with a certain probability.

Workers: 

head of the laboratory

graduated technical assistant

Research projects: 
Publications: 
Number of publications: 62

2016

2015

2014