All News

Matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry allows direct, in situ, label-free measurement of proteins, peptides, lipids, small-molecule drugs and their metabolites, and other chemicals in tissues. In a range of applications, the unique information generated by MALDI imaging can make a significant contribution to understanding factors such as molecular and metabolic mechanisms and the transport and localization of compounds or metabolites with human, animal, or plant species.

Recent advances have significantly improved the performance of capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE–MS) for the profiling of polar and charged metabolites in volume-restricted or mass-limited biological samples. Here, those advances are discussed, and attention is also devoted to various technical aspects that still need to be addressed.

For lipid-containing food products like mayonnaise, determining nonvolatile lipid oxidation products, the precursor compounds for rancidity, makes it possible to predict product shelf life at an earlier stage in product development. A method based on normal-phase liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure photoionization-mass spectrometry (LC–APPI-MS) was developed for this purpose.

A novel automated ultratrace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method has been developed that quantitates the eight toxaphene Parlar congeners designated in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method 8276. This method, combined with an efficient extraction, cleanup, and fractionation technique, makes is possible to extend instrument detection limits to the low parts-per-trillion concentration level for these toxaphene Parlar congeners.

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC) is a powerful technique for separating highly complex samples. However, the proliferation of this technique is hindered by a range of challenges, including the possible impact of the additional separation on the detection sensitivity, concerns that mobile phase incompatibility problems will limit the applicability, and the complexity of the system and associated method development costs. This article addresses these issues and describes how modern modulators and software tools are overcoming the barriers associated with this technique.

The biomimetic gradient retention time measurements on C18, immobilized artificial membrane (IAM), human serum albumin (HSA), and acid-glycoprotein (AGP) stationary phases can be used to characterize compounds partitioning into phospholipids and proteins. The data obtained can then be used in equations to estimate the in vivo plasmaÐtissue distribution of the compounds measured. The plasma protein binding, brain tissue binding, and in vivo drug efficiency can also be calculated using the biomimetic chromatographic data.

With so many choices for fittings to use in making connections in my liquid chromatography (LC) system, how do I know which ones are the right ones for my application?

This yearly report on new products introduced at Pittcon (or in the preceding year) covers sample preparation instrumentation, supplies, and accessories.

John Hinshaw presents his annual review of new developments in the field of gas chromatography seen at Pittcon and other venues in the past 12 months.

We explore the careers and achievements of the winners of LCGC’s 11th annual awards: Ronald E. Majors and Zachary S. Breitbach.

An excerpt from LCGC’s e-learning tutorial on inlet maintenance at CHROMacademy.com

The 2018 Sample Prep Summer Course will take place in Chania-Crete, Greece, on 22–24 August 2018.

Click the title above to open the LCGC Europe May 2018 regular issue, Vol 31, No 5, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open the LCGC North America May 2018 regular issue, Vol 36 No 5, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open the May 2018 issue of Current Trends in Mass Spectrometry, Volume 16, Number 2, in an interactive PDF format.

Agilent Technologies Inc. and Imperial College London have signed a strategic scientific collaboration agreement that will see a broad range of Agilent instruments installed in a sponsored measurement suite to be housed within Imperial’s Molecular Sciences Research Hub.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota have investigated the salivary proteomics of healthy dogs using offline high pH reversed-phase LC fractionation and nano LC–MS/MS.

Incognito focuses on a big challenge in regulated analytical chemistry laboratories.

This article introduces the development of an automated and versatile technique for solution viscosity determination of a wide range of polymeric materials in different solvents. Sample preparation is a tedious and error-prone process in viscosity determinations of polymeric materials, especially when elevated temperature or when hazardous solvents are required. This new approach automates sample preparation and injection to the viscometer detector, with benefits in efficiency and safety as well as in analysis precision. The dissolution conditions were studied and optimized to reduce thermal and oxidative degradation, which are detrimental to the accuracy of the observed viscosity.

Click the title above to open The Column April 2018 Europe & Asia issue, Volume 14, Number 4, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open The Column April 2018 North American issue, Volume 14, Number 4, in an interactive PDF format.

What is the chemistry of this phase? What are the mechanisms of interaction with the analyte and hence how is retention and selectivity gained from this phase? How can we troubleshoot separation problems or develop suitable methods without a good knowledge of the bonded phase chemistry?

I do not remember the application, but I remember very clearly Professor McNair telling us that soil is one of the most challenging sample matrices, if not the toughest, from which to perform analytical determinations. Sources indicate the composition of soil ideal for growing plants to be 25% air, 25% water, 45% minerals, and 5% organic matter. That does not seem like a daunting makeup, but the reality is that the relative proportion of the constituents can vary dramatically.

Our annual review of new liquid chromatography columns and accessories, including columns for reversed-phase, HILIC, chiral, SEC, GPC, ion-exchange, and SFC separations of small and large molecules.

In part II of this series, we explore how curve resolution methods advance purity assessments and illustrate one of the most popular techniques, which adds a powerful tool to the chromatographer’s arsenal.

Ligands capable of undergoing electrostatic interactions can add an extra dimension to separations of ionizable compounds.

Part II of this series on practical perspectives on data integrity focuses on instrument setup, system suitability test samples, and data acquisition.

Tips on how to select a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) stationary phase.

The Chromatographic Society and Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group have announced a one‑day meeting titled From Cradle to Grave: The Chromatographic (Analytical) Method Life Cycle. The meeting will be held at Burlington House, London, UK, on Thursday 10 May 2018.