MS Laboratory

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

last updated: July 19, 2023

About the Laboratory

MS Laboratory

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

@ Section 3.2 Organic Geochemistry

This Laboratory is part of:

Organic-geochemical Laboratories laboratory complex
GFZ Research Infrastructure: Large Infrastructure LI
Networks: Geo.X

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Description

FT-ICR-MS is applied for the characterization of polar compounds like NSO (nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen containing organic compounds) in fossil and recent geological samples (sediments, sedimentary rocks, coals, soils, and water samples), assessment of secondary alteration processes in petroleum systems (maturation, biodegradation, and migration), characterization of high molecular weight aromatic compounds, elucidation of molecular formulae and molecular imaging.
GC-MS is used for identification and quantification of organic compounds in complex mixtures, analysis of fossil biomarkers, analysis of aromatic hydrocarbons and structure elucidation.
LC-MS is applied for the analysis of intact phospholipids in biological and geological samples and the analysis of high-molecular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Instruments

Mass spectrometer based on the principle of ion cyclotron resonance in which an ion in a magnetic field moves in a circular orbit at the cyclotron frequency that is characteristic of its m/z value. Ions are coherently excited to a larger radius orbit using a pulse of radio frequency electric field, and their image charge is detected on receiver plates as a time domain signal. Fourier transformation of the time domain signal results in a frequency domain signal that is converted to a mass spectrum based on the inverse relationship between cyclotron frequency and m/z. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06)
FT-ICR-MS - Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometer
In the simplest terms, the GC/MS instrument represents a device that separates chemical mixtures (the GC component) and a very sensitive detector (the MS component) with a data collector (the computer component). Additional information available at "http://caag.state.ca.us/bfs/toxlab/gcms.htm" [Summary provided by the California Bureau of Forensic Services] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
GC-MS - Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer
Technique by which a mixture of analytes is separated into individual components by liquid chromatography (typically high-performance liquid chromatography), followed by detection with a mass spectrometer. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06)
LC-MS - Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer

Analytical Methods

Mass spectrometer based on the principle of ion cyclotron resonance in which an ion in a magnetic field moves in a circular orbit at the cyclotron frequency that is characteristic of its m/z value. Ions are coherently excited to a larger radius orbit using a pulse of radio frequency electric field, and their image charge is detected on receiver plates as a time domain signal. Fourier transformation of the time domain signal results in a frequency domain signal that is converted to a mass spectrum based on the inverse relationship between cyclotron frequency and m/z. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06)
FT-ICR-MS - Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry
In the simplest terms, the GC/MS instrument represents a device that separates chemical mixtures (the GC component) and a very sensitive detector (the MS component) with a data collector (the computer component). Additional information available at "http://caag.state.ca.us/bfs/toxlab/gcms.htm" [Summary provided by the California Bureau of Forensic Services]
Technique by which a mixture is separated into individual components by gas chromatography, followed by detection with a mass spectrometer. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
GC-MS - Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Technique by which a mixture of analytes is separated into individual components by liquid chromatography (typically high-performance liquid chromatography), followed by detection with a mass spectrometer. (Source: IUPAC; https://doi.org/10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06)
LC-MS - Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI)
Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization (APPI)
Chemical Ionization (CI)
Direct Infusion Experiments
Electron Ionization (EI)
Electrospray Ionization (ESI)
HPLC
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI)
Normal Phase-HPLC
Reversed Phase-HPLC
Tandem-Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS)

Disciplines

Geoscience > Geochemistry > Geochemistry
Geochemistry

The Research Network for Geosciences in Berlin and Potsdam

MS Laboratory

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

About the Laboratory

MS Laboratory

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Description

Instruments

Analytical Methods

Laboratory Keywords

Disciplines

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