Time-of-flight mass spectrometer with ion mobility separation

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In a cooperation of several working groups of Faculty 2 (Life Sciences) of the TU Braunschweig, a time-of-flight mass spectrometer with ion mobility separation (IMS-QTOF) is being applied for. This detector will be coupled to an existing UHPLC system. It is intended for the analysis of natural products, proteins, peptides and amino acids ("proteomics") as well as the comprehensive analysis of metabolites ("metabolomics") in ongoing and planned projects. The detector shall be equipped with an ESI source. The detector will significantly expand the analytical capabilities not only in the Institute of Food Chemistry, but also in the entire faculty. It will be the only device of its category at the TU Braunschweig. It will significantly improve the connectivity in cooperative projects for the participating institutes and have a supporting effect on the acquisition of third-party funding. The device will take into account the increased need for the use of high-resolution mass spectrometric methods in food chemistry research.The device will be used both for the identification and structural elucidation of substances in complex matrices ("non-targeted analysis") and for the quantification of substances ("targeted analysis"). Up to now, high-resolution mass spectrometry has not been possible at the Institute. Another goal is the analysis and sequencing of peptides and the identification of native proteins and proteins modified by food processing ("proteomics"). Metabolite analysis is to be used for the characterization of enzymatic reactions and food-relevant fermentation processes, for authenticity analysis of food and in surveys of physiological samples. The lower detection limits that can be achieved with the instrument will be particularly advantageous for projects that comprise quantitative analysis.High resolution and mass accuracy are indispensable for the current and planned research work. Furthermore, an essential prerequisite for most of the planned work is ion mobility separation, which shall lead to improved separation of isobaric natural products, oxidized amino acids, and improved assignment of product ion spectra to peaks of isobaric substances that are poorly separated by chromatography alone. Here, the highest possible resolution in ion mobility separation is essential.The running costs, especially operation and maintenance costs, can be covered by the basic funding of the Institute. A participation of external users in these costs is envisaged.