Multi-inlet comprehensive gas chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry

用最简单的术语来说，质谱法是一种称量化合物或分子的技术。这是通过中性化合物带电的初始阶段实现的。这被称为电离，一旦电离，这些物种（离子）可以使用磁场和/或电场分离。对于单个化合物的分析可能很简单，但当处理混合物时，则需要其他技术。需要对混合物进行分离，以确定单个成分；这是基本的分离科学，有很多不同的方法来进行。最常见的是色谱法，这是一种分离许多不同形式的化学混合物的方法。可使用气体或液体进行分离。色谱法和质谱法的结合为复杂混合物的分析提供了最强大的现代仪器。该提案将资助多入口气相色谱质谱计。该仪器将提供先进的自动化样品导入技术，分离复杂混合物和先进的高分辨率质谱，以帮助化合物鉴定。入口将提供无缝集成和自动样品导入，不受兼容样品类型的限制，例如大体积和小体积气体，样品上方气体和蒸气的顶空间，捕获的材料和探针，用于热降解大物种，例如聚合物，以测量成分。气相色谱法（一柱）可以分离混合物中的成分，但对于高度复杂的混合物，需要二维色谱法（两柱）。不同的柱加强了单个化合物的分离，并将重叠的化合物分离。高分辨率质量测量用于确定化合物的化学式，这允许具有相同标称质量的物质通过其化学式的差异来分离。尖端样品入口、色谱分离和质谱能力的结合将在一系列应用中提供新型和具有战略意义的重要化学物质的定性和定量分析，并将成为英国学术界的独特能力。它将提供一个能够分析具有挑战性的燃料和痕量物质排放的系统，并将为从事挥发性化合物研究的英国合成和催化化学团体提供服务；英国环境科学家检测复杂基质中的低水平污染物、空气中污染物；工程师们研究小型有机气体，硫等的演化。新的战略设备将支持整个南部地区的研究。来自区域合作伙伴（巴斯大学，朴茨茅斯大学，南安普顿大学和斯旺西大学）的科学将发展能力，随后扩展到其他学术和行业研究人员，形成一个卓越中心，以实现EPSRC的高优先级研究。

In its simplest terms mass spectrometry is a technique for weighing compounds or molecules. This is achieved through an initial stage where the neutral compound becomes charged. This is called ionisation, and once ionised, these species (ions) can be separated using magnetic and/or electric fields. For individual compounds analysis can be simple, but when dealing with mixtures other technologies are required. The mixtures need to be separated to identify the individual components; this is fundamentally separation science and there are a number of different ways to undertake this. The most common is called chromatography, which is a method of separating many different forms of chemical mixtures. Separations can be undertaken using gases or liquids. The combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry affords the most powerful modern day instrumentation for the analysis of complex mixtures.This proposal will fund a multiple inlets gas chromatography mass spectrometer. This instrumentation will deliver advanced automated sample introduction techniques, separation of complex mixtures and advanced high resolution mass spectrometry to aid compound identification.The inlets will provide seamless integration and automated sample introduction with no constraints on compatible sample types, e.g. large volume and low volume gases, headspace for gases and vapours above a sample, captured material and a probe to thermally degrade large species, e.g. polymers into measurable components. Gas chromatography (one column) will afford separation of components in mixtures but for highly complex mixtures, 2-dimensional chromatography (two columns) are needed. The different columns enhance the separation of individual compounds and will separate of overlapping compounds.High resolution mass measurement is used to determine the chemical formulae of compounds, this allows for species with the same nominal mass to be separated by differences in their chemical formulae.The combination of cutting edge sample inlets, chromatographic separation and MS capability will deliver qualitative and quantitative analysis of novel and strategically important chemistries across a range of applications, and will be a unique capability within the UK academic sector. It will deliver a system capable of analysing challenging fuels and emissions for trace level materials, and will serve the research of the UK synthetic and catalysis chemistry communities who work with volatile compounds; the UK environmental scientists to detect low level pollutants in complex matrices, air-borne pollutants; and engineers researching the evolution of small organic gases, sulfur etc. The new strategic equipment will support research across the Southern region. The science from the regional partners (Universities of Bath, Portsmouth, Southampton and Swansea) will develop the capability and subsequently be extended to other academic and industry researchers to form a Centre of Excellence to enable high-priority EPSRC research.