Mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) is the gold-standard analytical laboratory technique that can determine the true chemical composition of a sample. It offers high accuracy, selectivity, dynamic range and sensitivity with detection limits at parts per trillion (ppt). Due to its universal applicability and superior resolving power, MS is often used for identifying important, but technically difficult parameters that cannot be obtained by other sensors. With growing demand to reduce the cost of mass spectrometers and bring them to the field, we focus our research towards portable MS for sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, food security, personalized nutrition, and environmental applications. This also includes development of novel in-field methods for sampling and parameter identification as well as implementation of miniature ionisation sources and mass analysers.

Personalised nutrition

We investigate consumer food intake effects for personalised nutrition using a portable mass spectrometer based on a quadrupole analyser, which offers complete functionality of a large-scale laboratory system. The work performs pre and post meal analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled human breath. By developing novel sampling and parameter identification methods, we provide non-invasive approach to assess metabolic effects of food intake. Groups of participants that will be examined include healthy people with moderate physical activity, athletes, people with obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and those with unhealthy diet habits.

Projects:

PROTEIN – Personalized nutrition for healthy living, GA 817732, H2020-SFS-2018-1 (1 Dec 2018 – 31 May 2022).