NMR spektrometers at UiB
The Department of Chemistry has three operational high-field NMR-spectrometers, in addition to a 60 MHz benchtop spectrometer.
Main content
The three high-field spectrometers are located in the NNP building and are part of the Norwegian NMR Platform (NNP). Meanwhile, the 60 MHz benchtop instrument is located at Realfagbygget. The spectrometers are:
- 850 MHz: For biomolecules, time consuming experiments, or increashed resolution.
- 600 MHz: Walk-up instrument for routin liquid-state NMR.
- 500 MHz: Wide-bore spectrometer. Used for solid-state, imaging, and diffusion.
- 60 MHz: Benctop spectrometer.
850 MHz
850 MHz AVANCE III HD spectrometer from Bruker BioSpin. The spectrometer is ideal for the study of large biomolecules, i.e. proteins. In addition, the instrument is suitable for samples that benefit from the higher sensitivity and resolution, or for time consuming experiments.
The instrument is equipped with a TCI CryoProbe (1H, 2H, 13C, and 15N) and an automatic sample changer (SampleJet) with a capasity of 5x96 short tubes (refridgerated, in 5 racks) and 30 positions for long tubes (at room temperature).
The 850 MHz magnet is the core spectrometer of the NNP (Norwegian NMR platform) project, financed by The Research Council of Norway. It was installed in 2016.
600 MHz
600 MHz AVANCE NEO spectrometer from Bruker BioSpin. The spectrometer has a versetile role, and is used for everything from organic chemistry to metabolomics and structural biology.
The instrument is equipped with a QCI-P CryoProbe (1H, 2H, 13C, 15N, and 31P) and an automatic sample changer (SampleJet). Teh SampleJet has five racks for 96 short tubes, where the temperature can be set individual for each rack. Usually, one rack is kept at room temperature, while the others are refridgerated. In addition, it has room for 96 standard-length NMR tubes at room temperature.
The 600 MHz instrument was financed by Bergen forskningsstiftelse, Sparebankstiftinga Sogn og Fjordane, Helse Bergen, and University of Bergen. It was installed 2017.
500 MHz
500 MHz wide-bore AVANCE III HD spectrometer from Bruker BioSpin. This instrument is tailored for solid-state NMR, micro-imaging and diffusion. The following probeheads are available:
- Triple-resonance CP-MAS (Magic Angle Spinning) probehead 1H/13C/15N, and additional RF inserts (1H/31P/23Na-29Si), for both 4 mm and 2.5 mm rotors.
- Double resonance modes: 13C/31P; 15N/13C
- Triple resonance modes: 31P/29Si-65Cu; 13C/15N-2H
- 1H channel on the 4mm MAS probe is tunable to 19F. This option will soon be available also for the 2.5mm MAS probe.
- Triple-resonance flat-coil probehead (1H/13C/15N) with a 31P switch (13C-31P switch), for NMR studies on oriented samples.
- MICWB40 micro-imaging probehead, with selective 1H RF insert, and double-tuned 1H/X RF insert (on several diameters). MICRO2.5 gradient system (2.5 G/cm/A) with amplifiers (X,Y,Z) 2xGREAT -60 (60A). Using ParaVision for multi-dimensional MRI/MRS data acquisition, reconstruction, analysis, and visualization.
- Variable-temperature Diffusion probehead with Z-gradient: BBI 500W2/S4 H&F-BB-D-05 DIFF.
The instrument was puchased by UiB as part of the Norwegian NMR Platform, and it was installed in 2015.
The NMR museum
On the third floor of Realfagbygget there is a small museum exhibit, consisting of two older NMR spectrometers:
- A Bruker DPX 400 MHz spectrometer. It was discharged on May 20th 2015
- A 200-MHz magnet
In addition, the following spectrometers (not a complete list) have been used at the department:
- Bruker Avance 500 MHz, quenched in 2022.
- Bruker DRX 600 MHz, decomissioned in 2017.
- JEOL JNM-C-60H, the first NMR spectrometer at UiB, installed in 1967.
