Northern Illinois University
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The ThermoFinnegan, also called Thermo, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry instrument (LC–MS) consists of a Thermo Surveyor quarternary pump HPLC system with PDA detector and a Thermo LCQ Advantage ion trap mass spectrometer.

The mass spectrometer is capable of MSⁿ measurements. In addition, a fluorescence detector has been added in‐line with the system. Although Electrospray ionization (ESI) is the most often utilized ionization method, the instrument is also capable of nanospray ESI and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Individual users are expected to supply their own solvents and HPLC columns.

The system is fully computer controlled using either the LCQ Tune or XCaliber, depending on the experiment. The department also owns a license for BioWorks, the protein sequencing software utility.

To access the LC–MS, users must set up an account. Please contact Professor Elizabeth Gaillard at gaillard@niu.edu for more information.

LCQ Advantage Getting Started Manual (pdf)

• Chapter 1 – Introduction
• Chapter 2 – Setting Up for Tuning and Calibrating the MS Detector in ESI/MS Mode
• Chapter 4 – Tuning with Your Analyte in LC/ESI/MS Mode