Temperature Programmed GC: Why Are All Those Peaks So Sharp?
July 1st 2019This instalment of “GC Connections” dives into temperature programming. First, the differences in peak widths and retention times between temperature programmed and isothermal chromatograms are examined. Why are all the peaks so sharp in temperature programmed GC, yet they get broader (and shorter) in isothermal GC? Next, we explore some early ideas about temperature programming and peak broadening that explain why the peaks are so sharp in temperature-programmed GC, and why the peak spacing is different from isothermal GC. Finally, we examine an important consequence of our ability to program temperature: the need for temperature programming in splitless and other injections that use “solvent effects” and other peak focusing mechanisms. These points are illustrated using several historical figures and chromatograms from the early days of GC.
High-Throughput Experimentation: Where Does Mass Spectrometry Fit?
July 1st 2019In the pharmaceutical industry, the use of mass spectrometry in high-throughput experimentation (HTE) has increased, thanks to the technique’s speed, sensitivity, and selectivity. We systematically evaluate the applicability of multiple MS techniques for different types of HTE samples and purposes, reviewing the pros and cons, and provide practical recommendations, Illustrated by application case studies.
Laser Thermal Desorption and GC×GC for Harsh Environment and Planetary Mass Spectrometry
July 1st 2019The development of analytical instrumentation for harsh terrestrial environments and outer planet space exploration exponentially increases instrument requirements-for features such as robustness, autonomous operation, and speed-and poses unique system integration challenges. Here, we explore the use of laser thermal desorption coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (LTD-GC×GC) for use with a compact, high-resolution mass spectrometer for challenging applications.
The LCGC Blog: Exosomes – A New Frontier in Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Quantitation
June 7th 2019Exosomes are small lipid membrane-bound extracellular vesicles, on the order 30 – 150 nm in diameter, which are shed by normal and tumor cells in the body. They are circulating within your body and can be isolated from virtually any biological fluid. Exosomes released from tumor cells have been shown to be enriched in certain proteins. These nanobodies hold significant promise for the discovery of cancer biomarkers, for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and for biomarker quantitation.
Untargeted Profiling in Metabolomics
June 5th 2019The Wednesday afternoon session “Metabolomics: Untargeted Profiling,” will be held 2:30–4:30 pm in the Murphy Ballroom. The session, chaired by Elizabeth J. Want of Imperial College London, in London, United Kingdom, addresses six developments in this area.
Innovative Approaches and Instrumentation for Environmental Analysis
June 5th 2019A morning session today on “Environmental: Innovative Approaches and Instrumentation,” will be held 8:30–10:30 am in Room B308–309. The session, chaired by Pierangela Palma of the University of Urbino, in Urbino, Italy, includes talks on a range of mass spectrometry techniques.
The LCGC Blog: Buffers and Eluent Additives for HPLC and HPLC–MS Method Development
June 5th 2019Modern HPLC method development is dominated by a small number of pH adjusting reagents and buffers that are prevalent even when the method uses UV detection. This is driven primarily by the requirements of mass spectrometry.
Morning Session on Environmental Contaminants
June 4th 2019The Tuesday morning oral sessions on “Environmental: Emerging Contaminants” -in Honor of Ron Hites-will be held 8:30-10:30 am in Room B308–309. The session, chaired by Susana Y. Kimura of the Department of Chemistry at University of Calgary in Calgary, in Alberta, Canada, addresses analytical strategies for a range of environmental contaminants.
Innovative Separations Approaches Coupled to MS
June 4th 2019The Tuesday afternoon session on “Instrumentation: Innovative Separations Approaches Coupled to MS,” will be held 2:30-4:30 pm in the Auditorium of Building A. The session, chaired by Xing-Fang Li of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, addresses analyses related to biology, proteomics, environmental studies, petroleum, and more.
Instrumentation and Method Development for MS Imaging
June 3rd 2019The morning session “Imaging: Instrumentation & Method Development,” will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 am in Room B302–305. The session, chaired by Martina Marchetti-Deschmann of the Faculty of Technical Chemistry at TU Wien in Wein, Austria, includes talks on a variety of aspects of mass spectrometry imaging.
Food Safety and Chemistry Session
June 3rd 2019The Monday afternoon session on “Food Safety & Chemistry: Foodomics, Allergens, Bacteria, Foods, and Supplements,” will be held 2:30-4:30 pm in Room B405-407. The session, chaired by Michelle Colgrave, Molecular Analysis Team Leader in CSIRO Agriculture and Food, based at the Queensland Bioscience Precinct in Brisbane, Australia, addresses topics related to the analysis of coffee, milk, carbohydrates, quinoa, wine, and more.