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Monodisperse Aerosol Generation Interface
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Technological "magic" developed at Georgia Tech in the late
1970s opened the door for the first time to mass spectrometric
analysis of a wide range of organic compounds using liquid
chromatography.
Mass spectrometry allows precise identification of complex
chemical compounds by breaking them into small fragments and
identifying the fragments in unique patterns according to
molecular weight. Mass spectrometry has been useful for
characterizing a wide range of volatile organic compounds, but
only a small number of involatile or thermally unstable ones.
Because mass spectrometers can analyze only one compound at a
time, researchers use chromatographs to separate compounds in
chemical mixtures. Gas chromatographs have limited effectiveness
with organic compounds. The alternative, liquid chromatography,
was of limited value because there was no way to separate a
compound from the stream of fluid in a liquid chromatograph.
In 1978, the
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry's Dr.
Richard Browner began work on the use of aerosols to remove the
liquid solvents in a chromatograph. The result was Monodisperse
Aerosol Generation Interface Combining Liquid Chromatography with
Mass Spectrometry, abbreviated as MAGIC. This device allows for
the development of the new "hyphenated" technique, LC/MS, or
"liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry."
With the MAGIC interface, the flow of liquids carrying the
separated compounds in the chromatograph is sprayed with an
aerosol involving a helium-gas jet that removes the liquid
solvents by evaporation.
MAGIC's potential, especially in the fast-growing
biotechnology industry, was recognized by Hewlett-Packard. The
company purchased exclusive rights to commercialize the product,
which it sells under the name Particle Beam. Today, more than 400
of the instruments are in use in university, government and
industrial laboratories worldwide.
In 1989, Browner followed up on MAGIC's initial success by
perfecting technology for interfacing a liquid chromatograph with
a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Co-invented with the University of Georgia's Dr. Jim deHaseth,
the Fourier device links two complementary, but previously
incompatible, methods of chemical analysis.
The instrument facilitates separation of mixtures containing
many chemical compounds into separate components by a
chromatographic or other separation process. The species derived
from the chromatographic column are identified by their infrared
spectra.
The system allows on-line, continuous flow analysis to
be carried out with a wide range of solvent types typically used
for chromatographic separations. These include normal phase
solvents, such as water, aqueous buffers, acetonitrile, methanol
and various combinations of the solvents.
The Fourier instrument extends the reach of mass spectrometry
even further and can analyze about 95 percent of all chemicals.
Also marketed by Hewlett-Packard, the device can be used for
analyzing pharmaceuticals, food products and environmental
pollutants, as well as conducting basic research into the nature
of particular substances.
Georgia Tech file photo
An analytical chemistry device developed by Georgia Tech
professor Dr. Richard Browner in the 1970s has been
commercialized by Hewlett-Packard, which it sells under the name
Particle Beam. The patented name is Monodisperse Aerosol
Generation Interface Combining Liquid Chromatography with Mass
Spectrometry, abbreviated as MAGIC.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard Browner, School of Chemistry,
Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400. (Telephone: 404-894-4020) (E-mail:
rick.browner@chemistry.gatech.edu)
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Last updated: October 25, 1999