Inductively Coupled Plasma Triple-Quad Mass Spectrometer and Chromatography (LC-ICP-QQQ)

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 460739587

One focus of elemental analysis at Saarland University is trace analysis by means of mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) and elemental speciation by coupling of ICP-MS, in particular with capillary electrophoresis (CE) and liquid chromatography (LC). The requested inductive coupled triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with coupled liquid chromatography system (LC-ICP-QQQ) is used for the highly sensitive trace analysis of elements and element species in aqueous solutions, which pose a great challenge for analysis, especially in complex environmental samples. The application is a replacement for the outdated ICP MS at the site. The instrument will be a major analytical tool in various research projects in the fields of repository research (trace analysis to investigate the mobility of repository-relevant elements and their speciation with naturally occurring organic matter), water monitoring (quantification, speciation and origin of pollutants in small watercourses), medicine (trace analysis to detect the distribution and accumulation of nanoparticles in various tissues), functional materials (multi-element screening and leaching behaviour of metal-coated antibacterial) and materials science (determination and verification of the chemical composition, degree of functionalisation and decomposition behaviour of nanoscale materials developed in-house). The proposed LC-ICP-QQQ can be used due to its high performance (especially for element trace analysis and element speciation through LC-coupling) and extended measurement range (applications in the field of NanoBioMed) for various current and new research projects at Saarland University.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Triple-Quad-Massenspektrometer mit induktiv gekoppeltem Plasma
• Instrumentation Group: 1700 Massenspektrometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität des Saarlandes
• Leader: Professor Dr. Guido Kickelbick