Detection and analysis apparatus

Description

DTU National Food Institute wants to procure a LECO Pegasus BT 4D TOF Mass spectrometer with a cryogen free thermal modulator and an L-PAL3 autosampler with headspace. The modulator is integrated in a Agilent 7890B gas chromatograph and the TOF MS. The TOF MS can scan from 0-1500 amu and with a scanning speed of up to 500 spectra per second, the instrument is very suitable for GC x GC analysis. The modulator oven can independently be temperature programmed during the GC-run as well as the modulator time between 1s and 65s. The ion source is open and with a ‘StayClean’ design. MS vacuum system can handle column flow up to 5 ml/min. The Agilent 7890B GC has a split/splitless injector and has an extra FI-detector installed. LECO ChromaTOF software is capable of controlling the entire system and has an advanced, yet easy to use, deconvolution function for data management of GC x GC data. Software license for both instrument and off-line data handling. NIST 17 MS library is included. DTU National Food Institute wants to procure a LECO Pegasus BT 4D TOF Mass spectrometer with CF-modulator and a L-PAL3 autosampler with headspace. DTU National Food Institute’s (DTU FOOD) laboratory has samples of all types of food, feed and food packaging, where complex matrix substances interfere with the compounds DTU Food wants to determine (organic environmental contaminants, process contaminants, pesticides, veterinary drugs and natural substances). For GC analyses, it is crucial that high chromatography separation is achieved together with high sensitivity in order to identify more compounds. Comprehensive 2D GC (GC x GC) is a technique that enhances separation, but in the past it has been very difficult to handle due to delicate setup and lack of powerful computers and user friendly software. Integration of different independent system modules has therefore been problematic, and has not been a satisfying solution for DTU Food. This new generation GC x GC instrument is unique, as it solves the analytical chemistry challenges DTU Food is facing. The fast scanning TOF MS with high sensitivity is a key factor identifying unknown compounds in complex matrices. The integrated design of hardware and user friendly software with many automatic steps is essential in a university and research environment with many different users keeping the time spend on user training as low as possible. The cryo focusing modulator without the use of nitrogen keeps cost down and makes it possible to have unattended analyses run overnight, which is a crucial functionality for DTU Food. Based on DTU Food’s knowledge regarding the market of such instruments, it is DTU Food’s assessment that other vendors cannot provide instruments that entail all of the required functions and criteria as described above. The combined package of a closely integrated Mass Spectrometer, thermal modulator and a autosampler with headspace is thus the only reasonable solution for DTU Food, due to the following: — one and only one software package controls the whole system; — the combined system produce a higher throughput than otherwise possible; — the system has an essential ability to run unattended overnight; — DTU Food’s technical staff are trained in this particular software which gives DTU Food a high quality assurance that otherwise would require disproportionate additional resources from DTU; — DTU Food’s technical staff are specifically trained in using this system, which is described and certified in our national and international quality assurance system, why introducing of a new system will require disproportionate additional resources by DTU FOOD on retraining and certifying such system.