I studied my bachelors's degree (Hons) at Hong Kong Polytechnic Univerisity in Chemical Technology and acheived second upper class honours. I was one of the Dean’s Honours List in 2011-2012.In my final year project, it mainly focused in development of new ligand in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction and testing the effectiveness of the new ligand. The title of the project is "A New Series of Indolylphosphine Ligands and their Application in Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling of Aryl Chlorides". Now, I am studying at University of Warwick for the master's degree in Analytical Science: Methods and Instrumental Techniques.

The major part of the research project is investigating atmospheric pressure photoionization for petroleum analysis and my supervisor is Dr. Mark P. Barrow. For the project, an APPI source will be coupled with a state-of-the-art 12 T FTICR mass spectrometer.

Atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) is a less widespread ionization method, but one which offers advantages over some of the more commonly used methods, such as electrospray ionization (ESI). ESI is a soft ionization technique which is well-suited to the study of ionic and highly polar compounds, most commonly being applied to the study of biomolecules. APPI, by comparison, is also suitable for less polar compounds and has found increasing application for the study of complex mixtures, such as petroleum, where a mixture of polar and non-polar compounds will be expected. APPI can produce both protonated/deprotonated ions and radical ions, whilst ESI only produces protonated or/and deprotonated ions. Here shows the schematic diagram of a APPI source.

This is the spectrum of crude oil sample with m/z 0.3 window. It shows the ultra-high resolving power and mass accuarcy of the FTICR mass spectrometer.

 

Holly Chan

Ion Cyclotron Resonance Laboratory

Millburn House

Millburn Hill Road

University of Warwick

Coventry

CV4 7HS

mspmbf@warwick.ac.uk