Drawing A Better Map: Recent Advances in Protein Digestion and Peptide Mapping
December 17th 2018Biotherapeutics have become the hottest topic in pharmaceutical research over the past decade. With the increased interest in biotherapeutics, there has been a concomitant increase in new analytical methods for characterizing these large, complex molecules. This installment of “Column Watch” discusses advances in “bottom-up” analysis of monoclonal antibodies, while highlighting the role and importance column chemistry still plays in developing highly selective high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods for peptides.
The LCGC Blog: UV Detection for HPLC – Fundamental Principle, Practical Implications
December 10th 2018UV detectors are undoubtedly the most frequently used type of detector with HPLC systems, and I predict this will continue for many years, despite the rise of the modular mass spectrometric detector.
The Secrets to Successful Gradient Separations
December 6th 2018Liquid chromatography separations using gradient elution have the potential to be faster, give better detection limits, and have more flexibility than separations using isocratic elution. However, problems can occur with gradients. Some of these problems are inherent to the technique but can be avoided or accommodated with a little care. Others result from a poor understanding of gradient elution. In this new e-book, John Dolan, renowned LC expert and the longtime author of the "LC Troubleshooting" column in LCGC, presents the secrets to achieving success with gradient separations.
The LCGC Blog: Attend the Premier Conferences for Capillary and Comprehensive Separations in 2019
December 5th 2018From May 12 – 17, 2019 at the Hilton Ft. Worth in Ft. Texas, I will be co-chairing (together with my colleague Prof. Dan Armstrong) the 43rd International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography (ISCC) and the 16th GCxGC Symposium. I am writing to tell you this not only because organizing a meeting is quite an undertaking, but also because I am really excited about how this event is shaping up.
Molecular Imprinting for Sample Preparation
December 1st 2018Sample preparation is the most crucial step for the development of an analytical method. The main purpose of sample preparation is the extraction and preconcentration of the target analytes, as well as the removal of the matrix interferences, before their separation and determination. It is the most time consuming step that should be deliberately optimized to enhance extraction selectivity and detection capability. LLE and SPE, along with their variations, are usually applied for sample extraction and cleanup. MIPs can replace conventional sorbent materials in sample preparation techniques such as SPE, SMPE, and MSPD, offering increased selectivity over the target analytes. Attention is given in MISPE, which is mostly used to study MIP applications, as well as a commercially available technique.
Lloyd R. Snyder (1931-2018): A Personal Tribute
December 1st 2018Lloyd Snyder was one of perhaps ten “founding fathers” of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with seminal publications in most areas, including adsorption (normal phase), reversed phase, isocratic, gradient, and preparative chromatography; plus solvent, temperature, and column selectivity. With nine books, several hundred publications, and an h-index of 83, he was one of the most widely cited chromatographers and received many of the most prestigious awards in separation science.
Letting the Chromatograph Talk, Part I: Looking for Troubleshooting Clues in Unexpected Places
December 1st 2018An ultraviolet (UV) detector signal can be an excellent source of clues for troubleshooting problems with your LC-even if you are using a mass spectrometer. We also share another good source of clues.