Syllabus for Separation and Mass Spectrometry

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe theoretical models for separation, optimisation and detection for chromatographic (liquid - and gas chromatography) and capillary electrophoretic methods and predict how changes in experimental conditions influence separation with these methods
• describe the principle and the design of the components included in separation and mass spectrometric instrumentation
• account for which type of information that can be obtained from a chromatogram, electropherogram and mass spectrum and carry out evaluation of simple spectra
• choose appropriate technique regarding both separation and detection and choose and justify the choice of instrumentation based on the performance and requirements demanded by the applications
• plan and carry out experiments that permit validation of the performance of methods such as sensitivity and selectivity
• plan and carry out both qualitative and quantitative analysis of for example bioanalytical nature by means of the above mentioned methods

Content

Liquid chromatography (reversed phase, normal phase, ion pair, ion chromatography, size-exclusion), gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis (capillary zone electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography, capillary gel electrophoresis). Theoretical models for separation, optimisation, and detection. Instrumentation for chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Overview of systems to generate and measure vacuum. Sample introduction, ion sources and ionisation principles (electron ionisation, chemical ionisation, laser-induced desorption, chemical and photon ionisation at atmospheric pressure and electrospray). Overview of mass analysers mainly quadrupole, ion trap, time-of-flight and hybrid instruments. Detectors. Information that can be received from a chromatogram, electropherogram and mass spectrum. General aspects of interpretation of spectra generated with electron ionisation, chemical ionisation, electrospray and laser desorption. Connection of separation methods (gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis) to mass spectrometry. Data management. Strategies for both relative and absolute quantification. Analytical applications based on chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic methods.

Laboratory projects elucidating gas - and liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and laboratory work with mass spectrometry coupled to separation methods. Oral and written presentation of results.

Instruction

The teaching is given as lectures, lessons, seminars and laboratory work. Course introduction, seminars and laboratory work are compulsory parts.

Assessment

Written examination during the course (4.5 credits) and at the end of the course (4.5 credits). For passed grade on the course, it is required that the laboratory work has been presented and accepted. Laboratory work corresponds to 6 credits. The final grade corresponds to a weighted average of the results of the written examinations and the laboratory work.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.