Courses

Introduction to chromatography and chromatographic process-four modes of chromatography - reversed-phase, normal phase, ion exchange and size exclusion - main focus on reversed-phase LC - the concepts of efficiency, retention factor and selectivity.
Instrument operation- each part of an HPLC instrument in detail – including the solvent delivery system, sample injection, connecting tubing and fittings, commonly used detectors.
Chromatograms - significant aspects of the chromatogram such as column void volume and peak efficiency (theoretical plates) and brief description of theory.
Columns - The heart of chromatography and complete details - modern reversed-phase HPLC columns and different manufacturers - maintenance of columns and cleaning procedures.
Mobile phase - retention and separation -commonly used solvents and their strength - to adjust solvent conditions to get satisfactory retention - Isocratic and gradient elution.
Method development - The principles of method development and a systematic approach to developing effective, robust HPLC methods in the most efficient manner, temperature and pH effects and so on.
Few examples to demonstrate efficient method development.
Instrument maintenance - Important steps to proper maintenance of an instrument.

Basics of MS - Requirements of interface to couple LC with MS, vacuum system, different types on interfaces focusing mainly on ESI, API, APPI and other recent interfaces.
Ionisation methods, analysers and detectors of MS.
Recording of MS spectrum and over tuning methodology of tuning mass spectrometer, calibration and sensitivity detection for over all LC/MS as a total system. What is MS/MS? How do we get MS/MS of a compound?
Method development tools using LC/MS.
Tools to understand a mass spectrum and data interpretation.
Structural elucidation of an unknown compound using a mass spectrum with examples.
Characterisation of metabolites using mass spectral data and proposing metabolite pathways.
LC/MS method validation and quantification.
Case studies and examples (a) structural elucidation and (b) quantification by LC/MS/MS.
Analytical troubleshooting in LC/MS and proactive maintenance of LC/MS.
Recent developments in mass spectrometry.