Open Access UHPSFC/MS - an additional analytical resource for an academic mass spectrometry facility

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Separation Science

Background:

• Many compounds are incompatible with standard reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (RP-UHPLC/MS).
• These challenging compounds often require difficult infusion analyses, hindering high-throughput research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement an ultra-high-performance supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPSFC/MS) approach for high-throughput analysis.
• To expand the range of accessible chemistries within an open-access analytical service.

Main Methods:

• A UPC(2)-TQD MS system was integrated into the open-access facility.
• Utilized ESCi and APPI ionization sources for broad applicability.
• Implemented automated chromatography and mass spectrometry methods via a web-based interface (RemoteAnalyzer™).

Main Results:

• Successfully analyzed diverse compounds like fluorosugars, fullerenes, phosphoramidites, porphyrins, and rotaxanes.
• Provided chromatographic separation for samples previously analyzed only by infusion.
• Enabled rapid data return, facilitating unhindered research progress.

Conclusions:

• UHPSFC/MS significantly broadens the scope of analyses possible in an open-access setting.
• Over 90% of submitted samples are now amenable to analysis with chromatographic separation.
• This advancement overcomes limitations of traditional reversed-phase methods for challenging chemical samples.