Know Your Sample: Size Matters
August 1st 2016The past couple instalments of “Sample Preparation Perspectives” have looked at current trends in the field. Another recent trend is dried blood spot analysis and other analysis methods using minute sample amounts. This month we take a quick look at the role of sample homogeneity and the determination of sample size. Microsampling approaches, including dried blood spots, are discussed.
Innovating Microfluidic Technologies
August 1st 2016The future of biological and clinical research will depend on technological innovations and cross discipline cooperation as science seeks a deeper understanding of increasingly complex biological systems. The 2016 recipient of the AES Mid-Career Award, Amy Herr, and her team at the University of California Berkeley have explored these areas using a combination of chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering with strong foundations in biology, material science, and analytical chemistry to innovate new microfluidic analytical technology. She recently spoke to LCGC about this work.
Perchlorate Analysis by IC: Water Impact
July 26th 2016Continuing MilliporeSigma’s series of podcasts on the impact of water quality on chromatography techniques, Joe Plurad discusses the practical effects of ultrapure water in a specific area of analysis: The importance of water quality on perchlorate analysis by ion chromatography (IC).
The University of Manchester Opens Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre
July 22nd 2016The University of Manchester unveiled the £18-million Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre at the beginning of June 2016. The research centre will focus on biomedical research on major diseases, including cancer, psoriasis, and arthritis, using mass spectrometry (MS)‑based proteomics solutions from Sciex.
The Value of Chemometrics and Experimental Design to Analytical Chemists
July 22nd 2016Kevin A. Schug considers what the study of chemometrics and experimental design statistics can add to an analytical chemist’s work. Do analytical chemists lack an appreciation for the mathematical and statistical tools used to tease out important information?
André de Kok Wins Excellence Award at NACRW Conference
July 19th 2016André de Kok, a senior analytical chemist at the at the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), was presented with the Excellence Award at the annual North American Chemical Residue Workshop (NACRW) Conference on July 18, 2016.
Beyond GPC: Using Light Scattering for Absolute Polymer Characterization
July 18th 2016While conventional calibration for gel permeation (GPC) and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) are useful for polymer characterization, there are inherent disadvantages in these analyses. Adding multi-angle light scattering (MALS) detection can help overcome the challenges faced with single-detector chromatography. For more complex polymers, asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) offers additional capabilities. This e-book explains what you need to know about using MALS in polymer analysis.
The LCGC Blog: Proper GC Column Installation – The Simplest Way to Improve Your Gas Chromatography
July 15th 2016The title of this piece may have put you off reading it – in which case you won’t be insulted when I say that even the most experienced gas chromatographers often fail to install columns in the best way possible.
Tips & Tricks GPC/SEC–Light Scattering: Garbage In, Garbage Out
July 12th 2016This instalment of Tips & Tricks shows the influence of analytical parameters on gel permeation chromatography/size-exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC)–light scattering results when artificially wrong parameters reflecting typical experimental errors are used.
Changing the Landscape of Mass Detection in the Chromatography Lab
July 8th 2016Traditionally mass detection instruments have been for the mass spec experts and not played a major role in the majority of chromatography labs. With the advent of smaller, more accessible mass detectors, the potential of mass data is coming more and more within the reach of the chromatographer. With this webcast we look to see how the landscape of the chromatography lab is changing and how the value of mass data can be realized by the chromatographer.