On the afternoon of May 15, 2024, the sun shone on the Qinghua Garden, and a far-reaching donation ceremony was held at Tsinghua University. At this moment, Beijing Dongxi Analytical Instrument Co., Ltd. donated the first domestic commercialized mass spectrometer to the Science Museum of Tsinghua University as a scientific research instrument display and scientific history research.
So here's the story of this machine.
The development of the mass spectrometer for East-West Analysis began in 1997. It started in Hanjiachuan, Xibeiwang Township, Haidian. At that time, the R & D center of East-West Analysis was located here. There was a small four-story building in the middle, surrounded by bungalows. In a small room between the kitchen and the boiler room, the staff began the research and development of the mass spectrometer.
At that time, the domestic mass spectrometer market environment was very simple, 100% imported products. Li Xuanpei Li Gong, one of the founders of East-West Analysis, started the development of mass spectrometry. The first product model to be determined was MS3000, which was based on the technical level of the company at that time. It felt that it needed to be taken in two steps. Due to certain constraints of hardware and computer at that time, it could not reach the development level of mass spectrometry for the time being. So Li Gong first designed a simple mass spectrometer for learning and understanding the principles and techniques of mass spectrometry. To this end, Li Gong drafted the overall design task book and the sub-project design task book of MS3000, including two schemes, one quadrupole and one ion trap.
Mr. Li Xuanpei, founder of East-West Analysis
From 2002 to 2003, the sampling and scanning speed of hardware has made great progress, and at the same time, the speed of computers has also been greatly improved, and the conditions for the combination of temperament and temperament have begun to mature. So at this stage, Li Gong drafted the overall design task book of the GCMS 3100 and the task book of each part. The core part is the specific design of the hardware scanning and sampling. The design of these task books is not only a macro description of the whole, but also a detailed requirement for the chip model, timing, logic, and various voltages and currents used. Basically, it has reached the level where the hardware engineer or software engineer can start the actual design. The entire design process followed the standard chief engineer responsibility system of the past. The chief engineer was responsible for making the overall design task book and sub-project book, and distributed it to the person in charge of each sub-project. The whole project was fully developed forward.
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry PC Software Technical Task Book
Beijing Dongxi Analytical Instrument Co., Ltd. has established a development team since 2002, and worked together to complete the design task of the temperament hybridization instrument. During this period, the team has received extensive social support, including the care of the old seniors, Mr. Zhu Liangyi, especially the careful guidance of Mr. Su Huanhua and Mr. Wang Guanghui. In addition, it is inseparable from the encouragement and support of the vast customer base of Dongxi Analytical.
At the end of 2004, the prototype of the GC-MS3100 came out. The mass spectrometer was connected to the GC4000A chromatograph for analysis, and the software was also adjusted, so some signals could be seen from the workstation. Since everyone is very unfamiliar with mass spectrometry, I don't know if the signal is TIC and mass spectrometry peak or noise. One day, Mr. Wang Guanghui came to the company and watched for a long time. He must have said that this is the mass spectrometry signal. Haha. Then the prototype participated in the 2005 BCEIA, which solved a series of difficulties such as insufficient resolution, long-term stability, and stable production and assembly of quadrupoles.
Conceptual Article on the Development and Production of GC/MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry)
The suggestions and ideas put forward by Mr. Su Huanhua and Mr. Wang Guanghui in 2005 further pointed out the direction for the research and development of the project.
Early technical documentation for mass spectrometry development
After nine years, in 2006, the first commercialized product was finally successfully designed and delivered to the customer (Instrument number: 06006 factory date: 20061225). The technical indicators of this product successfully met the requirements of the design task book. In an interview with Dr. Jiang Wei of Instrument Network at that time, he wrote that "when he learned that the East-West Analysis successfully developed China's first quadrupole-gas-mass spectrometer, it felt like a walker who had been trekking in the barren Gobi for a long time. The yellow sand made people depressed and depressed. At this time, a green and full of vitality plant suddenly appeared in front of you, which made people feel excited."
The customers of the first instrument are Professor Lin Xiangyun of Xiamen University and Xiamen Peony Fragrance Industrial Co., Ltd. Mr. Lin is a big coffee in the field of flavors and fragrances in our country, and has written monographs on perfume production such as "Fragrance Technique", and quoted the spectrum of GCMS3100 analysis. Users who dare to use the first domestic mass spectrometry, Mr. Lin is undoubtedly forward-looking.
In 2007, at the mass spectrometer product launch conference held by East-West Analysis, CCTV-2 channel reported on it. In the same year, the GC-MS3100 gas chromatography-mass spectrometer won the National Key New Product Certificate, BCEIA Gold Award, and China Innovative Design Red Star Award.
Mr. Zhu Liangyi and Li Gong unveiled the first commercial mass spectrometer at the press conference
In around 2017, the GC-MS3100 gas chromatography-mass spectrometry instrument was decommissioned, and it has undergone a large number of sample experiments. After hearing about the news of the establishment of the instrument museum, East-West Analysis Company discussed with Mr. Lin and shipped the instrument numbered 06006 back to the company and donated it to the future museum.
The donation ceremony was presided over by Liu Niankai, the head of the collection department of the Science Museum of Tsinghua University and an assistant professor of the Department of History of Science. Ms. Zhang Jie, deputy general manager of East-West Analysis, Mr. Wu Yan, director of the East-West Analysis Marketing Department, Professor Xing Zhi, deputy chairman of the Tsinghua University Committee of Jiusan Society, and Professor Wu Guosheng, director of the Tsinghua University Science Museum and director of the Department of History of Science, delivered speeches respectively.
Professor Xing Zhi first introduced the historical development of mass spectrometers in our country, saying that in the past two decades, the country has attached great importance to the domestic substitution of mass spectrometers and has made some important progress in research and development. Among them, the 3100 gas-mass spectrometer developed by East-West Analytical Instruments Company has realized the breakthrough of domestic mass spectrometry instruments from "none" to "have", which is of great significance in the history of the development of high-end analytical instruments in our country.
Professor Xing Zhi, Deputy Chairperson of Tsinghua University Committee of Jiusan Society, Tsinghua University Analysis Center
Fan Aihong, Director of the Career Development Department and Assistant Curator of the Science Museum of Tsinghua University, Liu Niankai, Head of the Collection Department of the Science Museum of Tsinghua University and Assistant Professor of the Department of History of Science, Meng Jie, Director of the Office of the Science Museum of Tsinghua University, Gu Haoliang, Director of the East-West Analysis Research and Development Department, and Gu Haoliang Gu, Director of the East-West Analysis Research and Development Department. Three engineers involved in the research and development of GCMS3100: hardware engineer Fu Benliang, application engineer Liu Gengtao, instrument engineer Du Jianghui, and operation manager of the editorial department of the Instrument Information Network
Donation certificate
Left: Zhang Jie, Deputy General Manager of East-West Analysis
Right: Professor Wu Guosheng, Director of the Science Museum and Director of the Department of History of Science, Tsinghua University
East-West Analysis Company donated the instrument to the Science Museum of Tsinghua University as the first domestic mass spectrometer, finding the best home for this meritorious instrument.
