A Look Back and A Look Forward—An Annual Check-up on the State of Sample Preparation
November 1st 2018We assess the state of the field, first looking back at developments presented at conferences this year, reader questions, and the passing of a pioneer in solid-phase extraction. Then, we look to the future of sample preparation.
Chromatography Fundamentals, Part V: Theoretical Plates: Significance, Properties, and Uses
November 1st 2018The number of theoretical plates forms the basis of chromatographic theory, and is a key parameter used in all modes of chromatography for measuring column efficiency. Fortunately, it’s easy to measure.
Rapid Classification of Beef Aroma Quality Using SIFT-MS
November 1st 2018Application of multivariate statistical analysis to a combined data set demonstrated that SIFT-MS discriminates premium quality beef from eight sensory defects, and, therefore, could be applied as an instrumental grading tool, obviating sensory panel grading.
A Simple and Effective ICP-MS Method Capable of Detecting Trace and Major Elements in Milk Samples
November 1st 2018The method described here is a simple method for detection of a wide spectrum of metals and for quantitative analysis over a wide dynamic range of elements, including both toxic metals and those metals essential for health and well-being.
The LCGC Blog: Oilfield Wastewater Treatment Is an Opportunity for More Analytical Chemistry
October 30th 2018Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction is a multistep process that involves horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and massive infrastructure to handle fossil fuel resource recovery and associated wastewater generation.
Chromatography Market Profile: Process Chromatography
October 15th 2018Process chromatography, in particular process gas chromatography (GC), is a well‑established technique within the oil and gas, refining, and petrochemical industry. The technique is generally used in process plants to determine product quality and yield.
Analyzing Artificial Sweeteners as Environmental Contaminants
October 15th 2018The Column spoke to Núria Fontanals, a senior researcher at the Department of Analytical and Organic Chemistry, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain, about her work investigating the impact of artificial sweeteners as environmental pollutants using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) and the broader role of HILIC in environmental analysis.
Capitalizing on the Benefits of Ion Mobility for Metabolite Identification
October 15th 2018The goal of metabolite identification groups is to de-risk compounds moving into development by ensuring they have favourable metabolic profiles before clinical trials are initiated. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) is a well-established technology for this purpose, as a result of its ability to selectively and accurately distinguish drugs and their metabolites. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) can add another critical dimension of separation by improving spectral clarity and generating collision cross section (CCS) values to track metabolites across multiple analysis conditions. Modern software platforms have now evolved to solidify the value of IMS for the field of metabolite identification.
On The Trail of The Lonesome Pine
October 15th 2018The Column spoke to Linda Schreiner and Andrea Buettner of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV and the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, about their work investigating Scots pine for odour-active compounds using two‑dimensional gas chromatography (2D-GC).