ORCAC
(Okanagan Regional Chemical Analysis Centre)
I worked with Dr. Rob O’Brien at UBC Okanagan’s ORCAC (Okanagan Regional Chemical Analysis Centre) on ionization sources for Mass Spectrometers (MS). We were particularly interested in APPI (Atmospheric Pressure Photo Ionization) as it promises many benefits over traditional ESI (Electrospray Ionization) and APCI (Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization).
In my masters thesis I co-developed the Lightning Ion Source, a photon source that could use a variety of discharge gases. I compared the LIS to the traditional krypton discharge APPI lamp. Secondly, I co-developed the Thermally Assisted Vapour Introduction (TAVI) sample introduction that proved to be useful at characterizing a variety organic and organometallic compounds.
Originally from Vancouver, I completed my undergraduate degree at Carleton University in analytical chemistry. At Carleton, I worked on various analytical, geochemical, land-use and climate change projects under the supervision of Dr. RT Patterson & Dr. Bob Burk. As part of the Okanagan Regional Chemical Analysis Centre my current research involves investigating novel ionization sources for mass spectrometers and hardware development. Mechanisms of Photon Induced Chemical Ionization (PICI) in Atmospheric Pressure Photo Ionization systems are being investigated along with Stationary Sample Introduction (SSI) methods. When not in the lab, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two dogs, a variety of sports and Mac computers.
There is strong interest in improving analytical techniques to detect and quantify chemical compounds. Developing techniques that have lower detection limits, wide linear dynamic ranges, are universally applicable, rapid and inexpensive is end game of analytical chemistry. One class of very useful instruments are mass spectrometers, MS's separate compounds according to mass, are very sensitive, mature and are universal (all compounds have mass). However, with the exception of high resolution mass spectrometers, MS's cannot distinguish between compounds that have the same atomic mass within (XXX). For that reason, routinely, a MS is coupled to a separation unit such as a gas chromatograph or high-performance liquid chromatograph, but generally separation requires 20 minutes to adequately separate complex mixtures into their component compounds. We hope to use a tandem MS (two MS's coupled together), first to separate, then to identify, distinguishing between isometric compounds, on second time scales. This will offer reduced analysis time and analysis cost over traditional techniques.
Compounds must be charged for a mass spectrometers to detect them, accordingly, analytes are ionized prior to detection by a MS. Typically electrospray or chemical ionization is used to impart charge to uncharged compounds, but photo-ionization has also been shown ionize many analytes that ESI or APCI cannot and offers several benefits over ESI or CI.
ORCAC: part of UBC Okanagan’s dept of chemistry, the ORCAC offer a large array of analytical equipment funded from CFI, Western Economic Development funds and..... ORCAC conducts fundamental research into ionization, offers fee for service analysis and assists faculty with analysis.
UBC O: http://web.ubc.ca
Main page: davincarter.com
