Collaboration to boost Hutton chromatography and spectrometry analytical capabilities

“Having state-of the-art capabilities puts the James Hutton Institute among the best academic organisations in the UK and across Europe”

The James Hutton Institute is reinforcing its extensive analytical capabilities for research and commercial work through a collaboration with global science and healthcare technology company PerkinElmer, to establish a QSight 420 liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry analysis unit at the Institute’s Dundee site.

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of liquid chromatography with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry. It is used for detecting organic molecules at very low concentrations (equivalent to a few grains of sugar in a swimming pool).

It can be used in a wide range of sectors including biotechnology, environmental monitoring, food quality, and pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. However, with this instrument we will be focussing on the organic compounds and metabolites found in a range of crop types.

Dr Andy Kindness, leader of the Institute’s Environmental and Biochemical Sciences group, said: “Having state-of the-art capabilities puts the James Hutton Institute among the best academic organisations in the UK and across Europe.”

Greg Sears, PerkinElmer vice president and general manager, Food, Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, added: “We are pleased that our QSight 420 instrument is helping to advance the James Hutton Institute’s research and look forward to seeing the exciting discoveries and breakthroughs that the technology helps to generate.”

LC-MS/MS analytical services have been a key service at the James Hutton Institute for several years, and  PerkinElmer’s QSight instrument will enhance the Institute’s capabilities to tackle new scientific challenges.

This new instrument, along with new equipment purchased part of Water Test Network (Interreg North West Europe), will enhance or ability to measure trace organic compounds in crops, soil and water, such as the determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals and persistent organic pollutants.

These chemicals can exert profound and deleterious effects on wildlife populations and human health. Researchers will use these instruments to determine the extent of these chemicals in our environment.

For more information about the Institute’s analytical capabilities, please visit https://www.hutton.ac.uk/research/groups/environmental-and-biochemical-sciences/analysis-equipment.