Rhodes University Regional NMR Service (RURNS)

The Regional Service.

Please note that the map displayed on this page does not represent the "region" supported by the RURNS.  In fact we will consider requests from almost anywhere.  However there are practical difficulties in supplying material over long distances.

1. Disclaimer.  While the Rhodes University Regional NMR Service (RURNS) makes every effort to ensure that the data it acquires from your samples and supplies to you is accurate and correctly assigned to the samples you supply, Rhodes University, RURNS, individual staff members and  private individuals employed by RURNS accept no responsibility for any error or errors which may occur or any consequences thereof.  RURNS will endeavor to preserve your samples and return them to your carrier.  However, RURNS, its principals and its employees accept no responsibility for any loss or breakages which may occur.  Your acceptance of our service implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.  You may be required to sign to indicate your acceptation of this disclaimer and the terms and conditions set out below.
   
2. All requests for service will be considered on their merits, taking account of the current workload on our instruments and the availability of staff to perform the requested service.  We reserve the right to decline requests if we feel that they  are impracticable, or if we feel that the conditions applicable to the requester, as outlined below, cannot be complied with.
3. Each sample for analysis shall be supplied dissolved in 600 uL of deuterated solvent in an undamaged, capped and sealed,  400 MHz grade, 5 mm outside diameter, NMR tube of acceptable quality.  We recognize 400 MHz 5 mm tubes made by Schott, Norrel and  Wilmad as being of suitable quality.    The requirement for 600 uL of solvent per tube ensures the satisfactory operation of our automatic sample changer.  Each sample shall be separately labeled using a detachable paper label.  We supply a down-loadable MS Word template for these labels.  Sample tubes should not be written on using felt-tip or any other kind of pen.  A separate sheet listing the samples, the sample mass and the solvent should accompany the material.
   
4. We recommend that a mass of 10 mg of sample material be used for medium sized molecules having molecular masses in the range 200 to 600 Daltons.  Heavier molecules will require more material to ensure an adequate concentration of nuclei in the dissolved sample.
   
5. Initial proton spectra will be collected as soon as possible after receipt of samples.  Multiple samples will be processed using out automatic sample changer.  It has a capacity of 6 samples.  We generally try to load it with samples having the same solvent.  This ensures optimal sensitivity since we can only tune and match the probe for the first sample.  We do have automatic shimming.
6. RURNS accepts no responsibility for failure of sample material to dissolve.  Sample which initially dissolves may later precipitate due to changing conditions.  RURNS accepts the sample as you supply it.  If it is impure the spectra will show this.  For the analysis of mixtures see paragraph 9. below.
   
7. RURNS does not offer a data processing service.  We will supply you with data as acquired in XWIN-NMR Bruker format.  Details of all samples supplied are recorded in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (work-book) in MS Office 2003 format.  This spreadsheet forms a record of our work and also forms a link between your samples and the data we supply. We will supply spectra with with basic processing, to confirm performance of our service, as a composite Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file containing suitably labeled spectra.  RURNS web-page supplies, as a courtesy, two down-loadable data processing packages.  One is completely free, and the other may be obtained as a 45-day evaluation package with the option to purchase it.  RURNS does offers neither installation assistance for,  nor tuition in the use of, these packages.  RURNS may suggest a suitable person with whom you can privately contract, for such services.
8. RURNS does not offer any deductive services (such as molecular structural elucidation) based up the spectral data which it acquires from your samples.  Again RURNS may suggest a suitable private practitioner.
9. Our present pricing is as follows:

• For each initial proton experiment.  R50
• For each carbon experiment (including a free DEPT 135)  R200
• Additional DEPT experiments  R50 (each)
  
• Two dimensional experiments  (COSY, HSQC, HMBC)  R500 for the 3 experiments.
  
• Mixture analysis using diffusion NMR and DOSY processing.  RURNS may quote you for this service after they have assessed your sample (s).
  

Material for Fort Hare, Department of Biochemistry

Material for Fort Hare, Department  of Botany

Mestre Nova is a highly sophisticated NMR processing and presentation package.  It offered initially as a 45-day evaluation package which can, of course, be extended by buying the software.  Contact Mestrelab Research or email me at a.soper@ru.ac.za.  The 45-day package also requires licensing.  Here are the instructions:

Here are download links for Mestre Nova.

MestreNova V5.3.0 (for Windows)

MestreNova Manual for V5.3.0 (PDF)