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.
Characterizing Protein-Nucleic Acid Conjugates with Light Scattering
November 12th 2018This article presents two case studies regarding the characterization of protein-DNA complexes using two complementary multi-angle light scattering (MALS) techniques, namely size-exclusion chromatography (SEC–MALS) to determine absolute molar mass of each component, and composition-gradient MALS (CG–MALS) to quantify stoichiometry and affinity at binding sites in solution.
Pressure Tuning: Increasing the Flexibility of Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography
November 1st 2018Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) offers significant improvement for volatile chemical separation. Selecting suitable first (1D) and second dimension (2D) columns normally requires consideration of the chemical composition of a sample. Replacing one of these dimensions with a two-column ensemble (for example, 1D1 + 1D2 for the 1D column), provided with a pressure tuning makeup gas between them, varies the relative retentions of compounds before the modulation step according to the junction pressure. This makes it possible to alter the apparent polarity of the 1D ensemble, and this alters peak positions in the 2D GC×GC space. This article presents an account of studies that suggest this offers potential for improved operation for a GC×GC laboratory.
Highlights from the HPLC 2018 Symposium
November 1st 2018The 47th International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques (HPLC 2018), chaired by Norman Dovichi, was held from 29 July to 2 August in Washington, D.C., USA. This instalment of “Column Watch” covers some of the highlights observed at the symposium. In addition, trends and perspectives on future developments in HPLC noted from the conference are presented.
Stationary Phase Selectivity: The Chemistry Behind the Separation
November 1st 2018“The column is the heart of the separation.” Perhaps more accurately, the column is where the chemistry that generates a separation happens. For chemists and non-chemists alike, the chemistry that drives the utility of a column to solve a separation problem can be complex and confusing. Selectivity describes the ability of a column to effect a separation. This instalment of “GC Connections” focuses on selectivity, its definition, and its importance for generating separations and resolution. We will also see how selectivity is the concept that underlies the idea of column polarity. We begin by asking two simple questions about common observations, then extend these observations into a capillary gas chromatography (GC) column, and conclude with an introduction to methods for evaluating the quality, selectivity, and polarity of a stationary phase or column.
Highlights from the HPLC 2018 Symposium
November 1st 2018The 47th International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques (HPLC 2018), chaired by Norman Dovichi, was held from 29 July to 2 August in Washington, D.C., USA. This instalment of “Column Watch” covers some of the highlights observed at the symposium. In addition, trends and perspectives on future developments in HPLC noted from the conference are presented.