Mass spectrometry involves the ionization of a sample to produce either positive or negative ions and these are then accelerated in a vacuum system and the mass of the intact molecule determined.  In addition, the masses of fragments produced during the ionisation processes can be determined to give structural information.  For example:

• Accurate mass measurement of the molecular ions can lead to the determination of elemental composition
• A study of the fragmentation patterns can lead to the identification of unknown reaction products through computer library matching
• “Soft” ionization techniques such as Chemical Ionization, (CI), Liquid Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (LSIMS, - often called FAB), Matrix-assisted
• Laser Desorption / Ionization (MALDI), Electrospray Ionization (ESI) and Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) can be used to reduce fragmentation and enhance the abundance of the intact molecular ion
• Coupling of chromatography (gas or liquid) to mass spectrometry allows separation and analysis of mixtures, assisting in the identification of organic compounds from synthetic, natural or biomedical sources

Swansea University has long been established as a centre of excellence for mass spectrometry, with the siting of the Royal Society Research Unit in the 1970’s followed by the Mass Spectrometry Research Unit and then the EPSRC National Mass Spectrometry Centre in the 1980s.  This Centre is open to all university research groups in the UK, with priority given to EPSRC-funded research and limited commercial service.  Specialising in difficult analyses but also providing backup for department services suffering any temporary difficulty, it is particularly relevant to the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, forensics, materials science and environmental analysis.  Training courses, seminars and workshops are available for students and staff and collaborative research and student projects are welcomed. 

www.nmssc.ac.uk