Sciex x500R QToF
Location
Coolbaugh Hall, Room 325
Contact
Alex Liethen – aliethen@mines.edu
LCMS QTOF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Each user is allowed 4 days per month per instrument, unless days remain available week of
Maximum 3 consecutive weekdays are permitted (ie. can only run 4 consecutive days if Saturday/Sunday included, otherwise 4 days must be broken up)
In the event of instrument failure, the current user may re-run/resume their run and push back those scheduled, or choose upcoming available days
**Either way, please email an update of the error and your scheduling plans to the group at lc-ms@mines.edu
**If you opt to re-run on a later date…
1) You may NOT push back people scheduled later in the month if you choose to re-run on a later date, contact Erin at esedlack@mines.edu to reschedule
2) You MUST attempt to fix the instrument before turning over – if further troubleshooting is required, contact Erin to schedule an appt. with a service engineer
Routine cleanings take place on a rotating cycle for each instrument, generally occurring weekly on Thursdays – check the FOM calendar and do NOT schedule during a cleaning time
If there is a scheduling issue and you must run during a routine cleaning time, contact Erin in advance to make arrangements.
Proper Instrument Use:
Front end cleaning: always clean curtain plate before starting your run (unless the routine cleaning precedes your run)-Please only run quick tune (pos. or neg.) before your run, do NOT attempt long tune or any other tuning procedures, Note: may need to run twice if first does not pass
Clean up following your run – remove AND dispose of autosampler vials, remove your column and replace with fitting!
If the instrument fails during your run, please attempt to troubleshoot using tribleshoot document and lab manuals (if you cannot fix it, notify the listserv and Erin for further assistance)
Be aware of proper range of injection concentrations (~5,000pg/mL), Note: some compounds should not go over 500pg/mL (refer to PFAS SOP)
If your run finishes earlier than planned, please contact the next user on the calendar – see contact information here
Please log all autocal failures in the “Failure Report” sheet (**be sure to note which ion failed!)
Logging Your Time/Samples on FOM:
After each use, please update the log immediately following your run
The FOM calendar/log will be checked for discrepancies on a weekly basis
If you do not run as scheduled, please still make a note with your name on the calendar as to why you did not run
You must include index # for the correct project(s) for the samples being run **ie. if you are running samples for multiple projects, please list on two separate lines with the proper # of samples for each project (even if all on same run/date)
NOTE: there is a surcharge for running less than 20 samples in a run, but this will not apply if you join two runs into one but need to list on separate lines
Do NOT include calibration curves, method blanks, double blanks, and quality controls in your count, only analytical samples
You MUST include run information for your PI in the comment section
If you perform Method development ONLY and no analytical samples, please enter number of days instead of number of samples
If your run includes re-runs as a result of an instrument failure, these are not billed but please make a note that your run was “No charge re-runs,” or only count the number of “new” samples ran
Signing Up for Data Processing Time on Google Calendars:
Three data processing computers are available:
1) Hickory – IP Address = 138.67.24.231 (use Mines adit login info)
2) Hunk – IP Address = 138.67.32.79 (use Mines adit login info)
3) Zeke – IP Address = cee-zeke.mines.edu (use Mines adit login info)
Maximum time allowed per data computer is 5 hours per session
You may NOT sign up for full days of processing on a single computer (unless it remains available day of), weekends included
If you end up not needing your sign-up session at the last-minute, please adjust the calendar immediately to update other users that it is available
Instrument Details
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry is an analytical technique for determining an ion’s mass-to-charge ratio by partitioning the particles within a liquid and measuring the time it takes for each particle to travel through a selected mobile phase. Ultimately this helps in determining the contents of a liquid sample and can be used to analyze biochemical, organic and inorganic compounds.
A Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer is a very sensitive system which can be very beneficial in non-target analysis involving screening a sample for a multitude of unknown compounds. Similar to a Triple Quad MS, there are three quadrupoles arranged in a series. A QToF MS switches out the third quadrupole for a TOF mass analyzer, allowing for greater range of ion detection and mass accuracy. Using a QToF system makes it possible to perform a full ion scan to allow for future analysis of unknown compounds without needing to reacquire data.