The University of York has purchased a gas chromatography system (including auto-sampler and sample preparative system) coupled with a high mass accuracy mass spectrometer, with electron impact ionisation source.

The instrument will be used for the trace detection of organic compounds in ambient air, exhaust emissions and aerosol samples. The mass spectrometer will be capable of obtaining spectra with low ppm mass accuracy over the range 0-1000 Da and with a data acquisition rate of at least 20 spectra per second. The instrument will also have picogram on-column sensitivity.