Equipment

The following scientific equipment is available for use at ICYTAC:

  • Particle size analyzer

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS)

The Agilent 7500 ICP-MS ensures high sensitivity and precision detection, identification and quantification of metals and metalloids. This apparatus is capable of ionizing most elements in a sample through argon plasma, allowing for the identification and quantification of these elements across a dynamic linear range covering up to eight orders of magnitude (ng/L – mg/L).
Its main advantages over other methodologies are its high sensitivity (low detection limits) and simultaneous detection of multiple elements in the same analysis. Its sensitivity spans a range of just a few ppb to even ppt, making it perfectly suited for trace element analysis.

Its operation relies on introducing a liquid sample, which is vaporized and ionized through an argon plasma. The resulting ions are transferred to the mass spectrometer, where they are analyzed based on their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) by the quadrupole and finally measured by a detector. The mineralization stage, which offers the option of using a digester/microwave oven, is the previous step in the analysis of the sample.

The ICP-MS can be applied in a wide range of fields, including biology, materials physics, environmental studies (water, waste), food, and geochemistry. For instance, it has been used to analyze osmosis water for the presence of mercury and other metals, in fish along with other biological samples.

ICP-MS ANALYSIS SERVICE

Q-TOF HRMS mass spectrometer

The Bruker micrOTOF-Q II high-resolution mass spectrometer (m/z) with quadrupole and time-of-flight (Q-TOF) allows for the acquisition of mass spectra of molecules with high mass resolution (experimental exact mass or high-resolution mass spectrometry, HRMS) and also fragmentation spectra (MS/MS). This information allows for identifying known molecules in many cases through database searching or comparisons with standards and determining molecular formula. Several sample ionization sources are available, with ESI (electrospray ionization) being the most widely used. ESI allows for gentle ionization that is compatible with most biomolecules.

This coupling of a prior chromatographic separation stage (HPLC, UHPLC) enables the application of HPLC-MS or UHPLC-MS techniques to analyze a broad spectrum of organic compounds in chromatographically separated mixtures. Such applications include polyphenols, peptides, proteins, lipids, sugars, food additives, toxins and toxicants, agrochemicals, drug purity control, and more.

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographer HPLC coupled with UV-VIS and PDA Detector

The Agilent 1200 HPLC, paired with a variety of appropriate chromatographic columns, enables the analysis of a wide range of organic compounds, including nutrients, polyphenols, food toxins, and additives. This system features a binary pump operating at pressures up to 600 bar and a UV-Visible diode-array (DAD) absorbance detection module for simultaneous acquisition of absorbance spectra between 190 and 950 nm. It is also coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer.

Furthermore, the system is equipped with a line degasser, a column oven, and an autosampler, enabling automated sample injections and chromatography runs.

Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) with automated sampler

The Varian CP3800 gas chromatographer, coupled with the Varian Saturn 2200 mass spectrometer, enables the comprehensive characterization of apolar and thermostable organic compounds, including pesticides, toxins, volatile compounds, and contaminants. The CTC-Combi Pal autosampler facilitates injections of liquids, headspace analysis, and solid phase micro extraction (SPME) alongside automated sample preparation with controlled agitation, temperature, and incubation times. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) have been analyzed alongside organic synthesis products, volatile compounds from seeds, beverages, etc.

GC-MS SERVICE

Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)

This equipment analyzes the thermal transitions of a wide range of polymeric samples across a vast array of conditions. It determines both thermodynamic properties (such as enthalpy) and transition temperatures ranging from -10 to 500°C. Examples include protein denaturation, starch gelatinization/retrogradation, and lipid crystallization.

Bakery pilot plant

This facility caters to bread production, encompassing sourdough processing and baking. It is equipped with complementary tools like thermocouples and colorimeters.

Multicell UV-Vis spectrophotometer

The Perkin Elmer Lambda 25 spectrophotometer is used for the analysis of food and its components through reactions possessing or generating compounds that absorb ultraviolet (UV) or visible (Vis) light. For example, it is used for the determination of total polyphenols in food, analysis of antioxidant capacity in food (TEAC, FRAP, etc.), analysis of dyes, etc.

Microscopy laboratory

The facility is equipped with the following optical microscopes: Leica S8 AP0 stereo microscope, Leica DM5000B automatic microscope (transmitted and fluorescent light), and Leica DMEP polarization microscope

Atomic absorption equipment

It is used to measure and analyze different types of materials. Equipment used to determine wet gluten, dry gluten and gluten index in different grain flours (mainly wheat). It provides information on the quality and quantity of gluten protein.

Equipment for the determination of wet gluten, dry gluten and gluten index in different grain flours (mainly wheat)

It provides data on the quantity and quality of gluten protein:

12.jpg

Lower-pressure rotary evaporator

This equipment evaporates liquids and solvents at temperatures below their normal boiling points. This process safeguards samples from degradation and is used for concentrating extracts (plant and animal), water and various solvent evaporation, etc.

Mineralization equipment for organic samples

This apparatus facilitates the conversion of organic nitrogen (found in proteins and nucleic acids) to ammonium sulfate. This initial step prepares the sample for subsequent quantification through distillation and titration techniques.

Kjeldahl Distillator

This equipment uses steam distillation to extract ammonia from mineralized organic samples for nitrogen quantification.

Refrigerated centrifuge

This centrifuge separates samples, reaching speeds of up to 18,000xg across a temperature range from -10°C to 40°C.

Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA)

This equipment allows for the measurement of the viscosity of suspensions while being subjected to a heating/cooling and shearing program. The analysis can be performed under a temperature range from 0 to 100° C and determines viscosities from 10 to 25,000 cP.

Particle size analyzer