Elemental and Molecular Analysis

employees

number of publications in 2024

Modern research and innovation rely on advanced analytical and characterization strategies As analytical instruments become increasingly powerful, versatile and technically complex, chemical characterization and analysis require the expertise of specialists to ensure optimal use and shared access to available equipment.

However, these requirements come with additional challenges, such as

Rapid technological evolution: the performance of instruments can rapidly become outdated, requiring continuous technological and methodological watch;
High costs: purchase and maintenance of instruments, as well as their running costs are significant expenses, though partially offset by equipment mutualization.
Flexibility and adaptability requirements: addressing the multiple topics encountered in research projects and analytical services demands high levels of versatility.

Objectives

The Elemental and Molecular Analysis group acts as a customer-oriented platform providing its facilities, instruments and expertise to the Institute’s RDI units and external partners. More specifically, the group’s mission is to deliver tailored analytical solutions, whether within project-based, long-term collaborations or in punctual service-oriented works.

As such, the group’s aims to:

Offer the widest range of analytical capabilities, based on cutting-edge instrumentation and multi-technique expertise;
Provide top-level performance by maintaining, renewing and upgrading instruments, while continuously improving know-how;
ensure comprehensive analytical coverage, by aligning the available technologies and performance with market and research needs.

To so, it can rely on its:

Extensive set of high-end analytical instruments, complemented by fully equipped sample preparation facilities;
Solid analytical expertise, built on strong scientific and technical background and enriched by long-term and multi-topic experience;
High reactivity and adaptability, allowing the team to meet new challenges effectively and provide customer-oriented analytical services;
Continuous development of capabilities, through the renewal or upgrading of instruments, the development of innovative methods, and the improvement of internal expertise.

Scope of expertise

With over 20 years’ experience, the group has developed strong expertise in quantitative analysis, especially the high-sensitivity measurement of trace organic compounds. This has mostly been developed through active participation in research projects and collaborations in fields such as environmental pollution, plant biology and food safety.

Instruments and laboratories

Quantitative organic analysis at the trace level relies on “golden standard” instruments, ensuring the highest sensitivity and specificity:

Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), equipped with on-line preconcentration and large-volume sampling;
Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem High-Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS);
Gas chromatography coupled with tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), equipped with a multipurpose sample injection system (liquid injection, large-volume sampling, headspace analysis, solid-phase microextraction, thermal desorption).

Given the variety of samples and high sensitivity requirements, sample preparation is a critical step where adapted procedures and devices are needed. The

laboratories are fully equipped for the extraction and preconcentration of organic analytes from various matrices using automated Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE), Quechers, Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction, Pressured-Fluid Extraction, or Solid-Phase Micro-Extraction. In the event of specific difficulties related to analytes or matrices, advanced protocols can be performed, including chemical derivatization, selective clean-up, preparative chromatography and on-line SPE.

Main applications

While applicable to many natural and synthetic samples, organic trace analysis is most commonly used in environmental and biological chemistry, where high selectivity and the best limits of quantification are generally required:

Analysis of organic contaminants, such as pesticides and degradation products, pharmaceutical residues, personal care products, PFAS, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc.
Natural toxins, such as mycotoxins and cyanotoxins.
Profiling of natural compounds (fatty acids, aromas, off-flavours).

Although based on more routine techniques, general chemistry - such as the determination of nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, halides, silica is essential for water quality and environmental studies and remains a core part of the group’s portfolio.

To cover the widest range of concentrations, from macro-analysis to trace detection at high sensitivity, multi-elemental analytical methods have been developed for the quantification of metals, rare-earth elements, and alkaline and alkaline-earth elements, in various kinds of samples.

Main instruments

Most multi-elemental quantitative methods have been developed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), offering excellent sensitivity and robustness. As for organic trace analysis, sample preparation is critical and involves microwave mineralization, enabling the dissolution and analysis of most natural and anthropogenic samples.

Applications

Elemental chemistry, and ICP-MS in particular, is one of the most transversal analytical fields, due to its versatility, robustness, excellent sensitivity and accuracy. Multi-elemental analysis mainly come from Environmental chemistry, food quality, toxicology and the characterization of industrial samples.

Drawing on expertise notably from material sciences, the group has developed a strong expertise in molecular identification and characterization, either supporting LIST projects or providing exceptional analytical support to its industrial and private partners. Based on a unique set of analytical instruments, this is particularly valuable for investigating unknown substances or confirming chemical structures.

Main instruments

With the exception of NMR, most of the instruments used for molecular identification are based on mass spectrometry:

Gel permeation chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GPC-HRMS, LC-HRMS) based on orbital trap MS.
Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) with imaging and depth profiling possibilities.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) equipped with a 600 MHz magnet and probes for solid and liquid samples

Applications

The combination of advanced instruments and experienced engineers allows the group to support an wide range of application domains, such as polymer chemistry, organic chemistry, and the formulation or investigation of surface contamination, to name but a few. The main requests - from projects, collaborations or services, -can include: