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Liquid Chromatography lab

THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY laboratory is currently operating with five GCs all using capillary columns with split/splitless injection. Flame ionisation detection is used in four of the GCs, the fifth being a bench top GC-mass spectrometer instrument. Routine separations are for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in a variety of sample matrices, volatile fatty acids (VFA) mainly from rumen, also carbohydrate and sugar analysis. However, staff will be pleased to adapt or develop methods for any chromatographic separation which is possible by GC.

THE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY laboratory is equipped with a selection of pumps, detectors, autosamplers and fraction collectors which are used for a wide variety of HPLC and FPLC separations. Staff are available to set up, operate and maintain chromatographic systems. Help and advice are also offered on method development and appropriate sample preparation methods. Typical HPLC methods are the analysis of organic acids, polyamines and vitamins, but methods can be developed for the separation of a wide range of class of compounds.

Equipment is available for AMINO ACID ANALYSIS, including preparative ion exchange systems used principally for the isolation of stable isotope labelled amino acids. HPLC based systems requiring pre-column derivitisation are widely used. Advice and assistance are offered on all aspects of sample preparation for the analysis of protein hydrolysates, oxidation and free amino acids from physiological fluids. Standard methods of analysis can be adapted to suit individual requirements.