Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGBLaboratory equipment – Methods and applications
Gas Chromatography (GC)
GC is a physico-chemical separation technique used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of mixtures of substances whose components can be vaporized without decomposition.
| GC Configuration | Applications |
|---|---|
| Pyrolysis GC/MS | Characterization of polymers, copolymers, high-molecular organic substances, quality control of synthetic materials |
| Headspace GC/MS | Highly volatile compounds in complex matrices (liquid or solid), e.g. solvents, aromatic substances, monomers |
| ITEX (Dynamic Headspace Enrichment) | Enrichment of volatile substances |
| Solid-Phase Microextraction GC (SPME Arrow) | Enrichment of analytes from solid or liquid samples |
| GC-MS/MS with Quadrupole Technique | Mass spectroscopic identification of unknown substances, e.g. environmentally relevant pollutants and their degradation products, as well as to validate test results; quantification of substances such as pesticides, PCBs, and flame retardants |
| GC with Thermal Conductivity Detector | Universal application, especially for gases |
| GC with Flame ionization detector (FID) | Universal application, e.g. for triglycerides, hydrocarbons, fatty acids, solvents |
topHigh-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
HPLC is a physicochemical separation technique used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of mixtures of substances. Unlike gas chromatography, which is an excellent separation method for volatile substances, HPLC can be used to analyze non-volatile substances.
| Detection | Applications |
|---|---|
| LC-QTOF/MS | Using electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), e.g., for the identification and quantification of unknown compounds, the analysis of substances such as PFAS, pharmaceutical active ingredients, hormones, and pesticides, structural elucidation of compounds, and non-target analyses |
| Refraction index detector (RI) | Universal application, e.g. for monosaccharides, disaccharides, organic acids |
| Diode array detector (DAD) | Universal detector for identifying and verifying findings using UV/VIS spectra, e.g., for active pharmaceutical ingredients, food additives, and vitamins |
Ion Chromatography (IC)
Ion chromatography is a type of liquid chromatography that enables the qualitative and quantitative analysis of ions based on various mechanisms (ion exchange, ion exclusion, ion pairing). At Fraunhofer IGB, ion chromatography is performed using suppressor technology.
| Detection | Applications |
|---|---|
| Electrochemical Detector (ED) | For monosaccharides, polysaccharides, phenols, cyanides, amino acids |
| Conductivity Detector with suppressor technology |
Selective detector for anions and organic acids |
Mass Spectrometry (MS)
| Equipment | Applications |
|---|---|
| GC-MS Quadrupol |
For the MS identificaton of unknown substances, e. g. hazardous compounds and metabolites; for the confirmation of experimental data |
| Triple Quadrupole MS with Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP-MS-MS) | Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a robust, very sensitive mass spectrometric method of analysis in inorganic elemental analysis. Among other purposes, it is used for the trace analysis of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, bismuth or rare earths. |
| LC-QTOF/MS | Using electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), e.g., for the identification and quantification of unknown compounds, the analysis of substances such as PFAS, pharmaceutical active ingredients, hormones, and pesticides, structural elucidation of compounds, and non-target analyses. |
Inorganic analytics
Digestion systems
Digestion is a sample preparation technique used for solids or samples with a matrix that interferes with analysis. By using various mineral acids, the goal is to dissolve the analytes so that they can then be analyzed.
- High pressure asher
- Microwave digestion unit
Cation analytics
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES)
In emission spectrometry, the elements to be detected are excited by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP), a gas ionized in a high-frequency field. The absorbed energy is re-emitted in the form of emission spectra. This method is used in inorganic elemental analysis.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a robust, highly sensitive mass spectrometric analytical method used in inorganic elemental analysis. It is used, among other things, for the trace analysis of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, bismuth, and rare earth elements.
Anion analytics
Ion Chromatography (IC)
Ion chromatography is a type of liquid chromatography that enables the qualitative and quantitative analysis of ions based on various mechanisms (ion exchange, ion exclusion, ion pairing). At Fraunhofer IGB, ion chromatography is performed using suppressor technology.
400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)
High-resolution NMR spectroscopy in solution is used for structural elucidation of organic molecules in solution. Furthermore, it is possible to follow and display the course of a chemical reaction.
| NMR- Equipment |
Description |
|---|---|
| 9,4 Tesla Magnet |
1H Frequency 400MHz |
| 5 mm Sample head |
automatically tunable in the range from 1H to 19F and 31P to 109Ag, field gradient up to 140 G/cm |
| 2- Channel spectrometer |
Measurement of both 1D and 2D COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY, ROESY, TOCSY and DOSY spectra are possible |
| variable Temperature control unit |
Temperature control from -100 °C to +150 °C possible |
Due to the support of the latest software, a complete control of the measurement parameters and a standardized evaluation is possible.
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
By TOC the total organic carbon content of a sample is determined by oxidation of organic compounds to carbondioxide (CO2). The TOC value is the difference between Total Carbon (TC) and Total Inorganic Carbon (TIC).