Molecular weight confirmation by either electrospray mass spectrometry or matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The Synapt HDMS can provide accurate mass analysis where the mass of the compound is measured to sufficient accuracy that the elemental composition can be determined or confirmed.

Mass measurement of proteins and peptides: this can provide the mass of a protein to within 0.2% (or 0.05% using electrospray). The mass of peptides (<4000 Da) can be determined to <0.2 Da.

Structural analysis can be provided by the Quattro micro and Synapt HDMS instruments which are tandem mass spectrometers and hence is capable of performing specific fragmentation of a compound. The fragments produced can be structurally related to the original compound. The Synapt HDMS has the advantage of providing accurate mass data on the fragments.

This is new and exciting capability to examine the molecular content of tissue sections from biological samples can be analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-I-MS). The distribution of small molecules (50-1000 Da), peptides (1-5 kDa) and proteins (5-50 kDa) on tissue surfaces can be analysed with a spatial resolution of around 50 micrometers. By comparing the virtual image with the optical image it is possible to study the localisation of target molecules in relation to the morphological features of the sample. Fragmentation of peptides can be carried out directly from the tissue surface to enable protein identification.

Proteomics is the study of the protein complement of a cell in a particular state. Mass spectrometry is generally used to identify proteins of interest through database searches. Proteomic analysis can be performed on either the Waters Synapt HDMS or the Bruker autoflex III instruments and the data produced on the same sample by two instruments can have a complementary nature.

Using or MALDI or electrospray mass spectrometry, the molecular weight of synthetic biomolecules such as oligonucleotides and peptides can be determined with high accuracy for quality control or for confirmatory analysis after synthesis. The high-throughput capability of MALDI mass spectrometry is particularly useful for this kind of analysis. The laboratory has significant expertise in commercial quality control testing of oligonucleotides.

Compound quantification for volatile and semi-volatile compounds can be performed using Gas Chromatography or Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

For non-volatile compounds, the Quattro micro tandem mass spectrometer coupled to liquid chromatography (LC) or the LC can be combined with the Synapt HDMS to provide additional accurate mass information.

Flinders Analytical has three types  of  ICP spectrometers, an Agilent 7500 ICPMS (mass spectrometer), a Perkin Elmer NexION ICPMS (mass spectrometer) and a Perkin Elmer Optima ICPOES (Optical Emission Spectrometer). These instruments provide quantification of multiple elements from samples after suitable preparation into liquid form. The NexION can also perform particle size analysis down to 10nm in particle diameter and can be configured for  LC-ICPMS analysis used in speciation studies.

Flinders Analytical can provide stable isotope ratio analysis for carbon and nitrogen in solid material. This technique is employed in detecting the origin of a material due to its isotopic ratio, such as explosives or drugs or the use of nitrogen-15 labelled compounds to trace metabolic pathways or nitrogen cycles.

Herbicide Analysis:

• Screening for cross contamination of herbicide formulations

• Detection of the proscribed impurity N-nitroso glyphosate (NNG) in technical grade Glyphosate.

• Detection of Phenazines in the herbicide Carbenzadim.

• Impurity profiling of herbicide formulations has been performed on over 70 different Agrichemicals.