Covalent Provides Ultra-high Resolution Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) with New Spectrometer from JEOL

The JEOL AccuTOF GC-Alpha installed at Covalent Metrology pushes the limits of mass spectrometry services to deliver enhanced data quality and speed

September 1, 2022 – Sunnyvale, CA. Covalent Metrology, a North-American provider of premier analytical services, announced significant enhancements to its mass spectrometry services following the installation of the latest-generation AccuTOF GC-Alpha Gas-Chromatography Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (GC-TOFMS) from JEOL, a leading manufacturer of analytical instruments based in Japan. The tool’s ultra-high mass resolution and exceptional sensitivity facilitate new materials analysis solutions for polymers, batteries, geochemistry, and more.

GCMS is widely used in industrial research to separate, identify, and quantify known and unknown constituents of mixtures. It comprises two subsystems: a chromatograph, which separates mixture components and ionizes signal fragments, followed by an analyzer, which sorts and identifies the fragments by mass. The time-of-flight analyzer in the AccuTOF delivers drastically improved performance over past GCMS systems. It is over 25X more sensitive (detection limit 18.7fg), with double the mass accuracy (error below 1ppm) and 6X the dynamic range. These features yield superior data quality and analytical power for clients.

The adaptability of the AccuTOF also enables advanced applications and accommodates nonstandard sample types. The TOFMS unit can be isolated for direct mass spectrometry measurements, combined with a pyrolyzer for polymer analysis, or serialized with the chromatography unit for 2D GCxGC experiments. It also accepts a variety of integrated, hard- and soft-ionization methods, as well as combinations thereof that produce automatic identifications of all unknown compounds in a sample.

This is made possible through JEOL’s accompanying software, msFineAnalysis, which accelerates time-to-data and enables more robust reporting. It automatically identifies molecular ions present without the need for any spectral library. Furthermore, it generates quantitative elemental compositions and even analyzes complex mixtures (copolymers blends/hydrocarbons) that fail to separate during ionization.

“With the addition of the JEOL AccuTOF GC-Alpha, Covalent significantly expands our chemical analysis capabilities. The combination of high mass resolution, sensitivity, measurement speed, and wide dynamic range enables Covalent to better support our clients to solve complex problems in the polymer and chemistry industries,†stated Nanette Jarenwattananon, PhD, Senior Manager of Chemical and Materials Analysis at Covalent Metrology.

This is the sixth JEOL instrument installed at the joint demonstration facility for JEOL at Covalent, preceded by: the JNM-ECZL 500 MHz NMR and the JEM-F200 S/TEM. It marks another step forward for a partnership geared towards making cutting-edge analysis more accessible.

For more information, contact:

Aleia Kim
Technical Marketing Staff Member, Covalent Metrology
aleia@covalentmetrology.com

About Covalent

Covalent Metrology is a disruptive analytical services laboratory and digital platform based in Sunnyvale, California. Its mission is to empower technological innovation with superior data and insights. Covalent makes it easier and more affordable to access the metrology data necessary for strategic decision-making: facilitating faster research, development, and production of advanced materials and devices. It is dramatically changing the materials characterization service landscape with the combination of its modern data platform, world-class analysts and top-notch customer service, state-of-the-art analysis instrumentation, and strategic partnerships. Covalent now has over 500 customers in 30+ industries.  Learn more at: https://covalentmetrology.com

About JEOL USA

JEOL is a world leader in high-end scientific equipment and instrumentation for research and development. Core product groups include electron microscopes (SEMs and TEMs), analytical instruments, including mass spectrometers, NMRs, and ESRs, and instruments for the semiconductor industry (electron beam lithography and a series of defect review and inspection tools).

JEOL USA, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JEOL, Ltd., Japan, was incorporated in the United States in 1962.  The company has 13 regional service centers that offer unlimited emergency service and support in the U.S.

For more information about JEOL USA, Inc. or any JEOL products, visit www.jeolusa.com, or call 978-535-5900.

Learn more at: https://www.jeolusa.com/