Instrumentation

You're not just an observer in a lab.
You're a participant in a discovery.
We have the tools to help you.

Discover and experiment while receiving hands-on experience with a variety of sophisticated analytical tools and techniques in our Chemistry and Biochemistry teaching and research labs.

Tools on the leading edge of science

 
 

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has an impressive array of instrumentation, valued at over $3 million and largely funded through external grants. The best part? Our students get hands on experience with these modern tools in laboratory courses and through research experiences led by a faculty mentor!

Explore. Experiment. Research.

From mass spectrometers that unravel complex compounds to high-performance liquid chromatography systems that identify components in mixtures, you'll gain experience mastering chemistry and biochemistry's analytical instruments.
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

    Two College of Charleston students work with a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectometerNuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to observe magnetic fields around atomic nuclei and helps determine the structure of organic compounds.

    The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Facility of the College of Charleston is part of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and is located in the School of Sciences and Mathematics Building.

    The NMR facility is equipped with a Bruker AVANCE III HD-NanoBay 400 MHz spectrometer, which was funded by the National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program.

    • System: Bruker Avance III HD-Nanobay 400
    • Magnet: 400/54 Ascend
    • Probe: tuneable multinuclear probes (PABBO BB/19F-1H/D Z-GRD Z108618)
    • Autosampler: SampleXpress (60 positions)
    • Software: TopSpin 3.2 and IconNMR 4.5
  • Mass Spectrometry

    Bruker Autoflex Max matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionizationOur Bruker Autoflex Max matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization – tandem time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer was obtained in 2024 with funding from the National Science Foundation (CHE-2320174).

    Dr. Forsythe, Julianna DeMauro and Jammirika Randall with MALDI summer 2024MALDI-TOF is commonly used in industry and biomedical research to detect various types of molecules such as pharmaceuticals, proteins, lipids and polymers.

    LC-MS system in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.Thermo LTQ Velos Pro, our LC-MS system used in Biochemistry Lab, Instrumental Lab, Environmental Chemistry Lab, Bioanalytical Chemistry Lab, Industrial Chemistry Lab, and faculty-mentored student research.

    Funded by the National Science Foudation Major Research Instrumentation Program, the LC-MS system combines the separation capabilities of the HPLC with the mass analysis capabilities of a mass spectrometer.
  • Spectroscopy

    Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy

    Research student Julianna DeMauro uses the FT-IR while doing research with Dr. Forsythe (summer 2024)An IR spectrometer detects frequencies of infrared light absorbed by a molecule. In IR Spectroscopy, we can study and identify chemical substances in solids, liquids, and gases.

    The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department utilizes five Bruker Alpha FT-IR spectrometers using Opus 6.5 software. In additional, students and faculty can access a Perkin Elmer FT-IR spectrometer Spectrum 100 using Spectrum software.

     

    Ultraviolet/Visible (UV/Vis) Spectrophotometry

    UV-Vis SpectrophotometerThe UV-Vis spectrophotometer measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light that is absorbed by the sample. 

    UV-Vis spectroscopy quantifies compounds in various samples. It can be used for concentration measurements, observing structural changes in molecules and monitoring reaction kinetics.

    The department's Perkin Elmer Lambda 35 spectrophotometer is a double beam instrument with deuterium and tungsten lamps providing a wavelength range of 190 – 1100nm. Variable bandwidths from 0.5 – 4 nm are possible.

    We also utilize four Varian Cary50 UV/vis spectrophotometers (190 – 1100 nm wavelength range) that use the Cary Win UV 55.0 software.

    Raman Spectroscopy

    Raman Spectometer.jpgA Raman spectrometer determines the vibrational modes of molecules. It is used in chemistry to provide a fingerprint by which molecules can be identified.

    The department's PeakSeeker Raman Spectrometer has an excitation wavelength of 785 nm and a spectral range of 200 to 3000 cm-1.


    Luminescence Spectroscopy

    Luminescence spectrometer.jpgA luminescence spectrometer measures the emission of light from a sample. It can be used to characterize the electronic properties of molecules.

    The department's Perkin Elmer LS 50B Luminescence Spectrometer has a pulsed high pressure Xenon lamp and is capable of both excitation (200-800 nm) and emission (200 – 900 nm) scans.


    Atomic Spectroscopy

    Atomic SpectrometerThe Atomic Absorbance Spectrometer measures the concentration of chemical elements in a sample.

    The department's Thermo Scientific iCE 3000 Atomic Absorption Spectrometer is equipped with a flame atomizer for elemental analysis. It is capable of performing both atomic absorption and atomic emission measurements.

     

     

     

     

  • Chromatography

    Chromotography is used to separate mixtures of chemical substances into its individual compounds.

    Gas Chromotography

    Gas Chromatography and Mass Detector (GC-MC) in the Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe GC-MS consists of 7890A Gas Chromatography and 5975C Triple-Axis Mass Detector equipped with a CTC-PAL autosampler that uses MSD Chemstation software. Students in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Synthesis and Characterization regularly use the GC-MS. 

     

     

    The SRI 310c in the Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryThe department also utilizes four SRI 310C GCs that use Peaksimple software.

    The system is used to teach the principles of gas chromatography by separating and analyzing the components of a gas mixture.


    Liquid Chromotography

    The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry has multiple HPLC systems for teaching and research purposes. 

    The high-performance liquid chromatography system in the Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTwo Agilent 1220 HPLC systems with variable wavelength (190-950 nm) detectors are used in Principles of Chemistry Lab, Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry Lab, Environmental Chemistry Lab, and faculty-mentored student research.


    Ion Chromatography

    Research student Allison Moore uses the IC during summer research 2024 in the Mullaugh lab.The department has a Thermo Scientific Dionex Easion Ion Chromatography system with an autosampler. This instrument separates ions based on size and charge so both cation and anion concentrations can be determined in water. The instrument can be used in Fundamentals of Analytical Chemistry Lab, Envrionmental Chemistry Lab, and faculty-lead research projects.

  • Dynamic Light Scattering Particle Size Analyzer

    Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZSP for dynamic light scattering.jpgDynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential measurements are possible on the Mavern Zetasizer Nano ZSP.

    A dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer measures the size and distribution of molecules and particles in a solution. 

     

     

  • Protein Purification Systems

    The ATKA Prime Protein Purification system.The department has four FPLC Akta Prime Plus protein purification systems from GE Healthcare that use the Prime View 5.31 software.

    The systems perform general purification tasks including high-quality gel filtration, HIC, affinity chromatography, buffer exchange, and ion exchange.

    The protein purification process separates the protein and non-protein parts of the mixture and then separates the desired protein from all other proteins.