January 3rd 2025
In the first LCGC Blog of 2025, Caitlin Cain of the University of Michigan highlights the divide between gas and liquid chromatographers, and why both types of techniques should be in the same conversations.
Next Generation Peak Fitting for Separations
December 11th 2024Separation scientists frequently encounter critical pairs that are difficult to separate in a complex mixture. To save time and expensive solvents, an effective alternative to conventional screening protocols or mathematical peak width reduction is called iterative curve fitting.
Investigating the Influence of Packaging on the Volatile Profile of Oats
December 10th 2024In the testing of six different oat brands, headspace sorptive extraction and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOF-MS) reveal how various packaging types can affect and alter the oats’ volatile profile, underscoring the potential impact of packaging on food quality.
RAFA 2024: Giorgia Purcaro on Multidimensional GC for Mineral Oil Hydrocarbon Analysis
November 27th 2024Giorgia Purcaro from the University of Liège was interviewed at RAFA 2024 by LCGC International on the benefits of modern multidimensional GC methods to analyze mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH).
Detangling the Complex Web of GC × GC Method Development to Support New Users
November 1st 2024In this article, the authors describe a simple workflow to develop a GC×GC method for a specific sample upon initial use, with the aim of decreasing the time to accomplish functional workflows for new users.
Detangling the Complex Web of GC×GC Method Development to Support New Users
September 12th 2024The introduction of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) to the sample screening toolbox has substantially increased the ability to comprehensively characterize complex mixtures. However, for many gas chromatography (GC) users, the thought of having to learn to develop methods on a new technology is daunting. Developing a basic GC×GC method for most (nonspecialized) applications can be accomplished in minimal time and effort given parameter suggestions and ranges to target analytes in a sample of interest. In this article, the authors work describe a simple workflow to develop a GC×GC method for a specific sample upon initial use, with the aim of decreasing the time to accomplish functional workflows for new users.
Reliable Separation and Efficient Group-type Quantitation of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs)
September 11th 2024Petroleum contamination from leaking underground storage tanks, for example, is a significant concern for both the environment and human health. Thorough characterization of the contamination is required to form appropriate risk assessments and remediation strategies, but until now, the determination of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in soil has typically involved a convoluted and labour-intensive process. In this article, the analysis of TPH in environmental media is simplified using flow-modulated GC×GC–FID with quantitation based on pre-defined compound groupings. This approach overcomes the drawbacks of conventional solvent fractionation approaches, by eliminating the need for sample fractionation and automating data processing workflows.
The article discusses the classification and characterization of GC×GC column sets based on polarity and orthogonality, introducing a standardized approach using a reference mixture called the Century Mix to evaluate the selectivity and performance of these column sets.
Targeted Blood Lipidomics of Colorectal Cancer: An HTC-18 Interview with Jef Focant
July 26th 2024At HTC-18 in Leuven, Executive Editor of LCGC International, Alasdair Matheson, spoke to Jef Focant from the University of Liege about his talk entitled, “Targeted Blood Lipidomics of Colorectal Cancer."
Advances in Chromatography Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
July 3rd 2024Scientists from the University of Turin, Italy have learned how to combine their complementary competencies in analytical chemistry and big data analytics to achieve significant advances in food science and health.
Inside the Laboratory: The Nontargeted Separations Laboratory at the College of William & Mary
March 25th 2024In this edition of “Inside the Laboratory,” Katelynn Perrault Uptmor, PhD, an assistant professor of chemistry at the College of William and Mary, discusses her group’s current research endeavors, including using complex comparative data obtained from chemical analysis to understand and solve challenges in forensic science and other life science applications.
Using Multidimensional GC Coupled to TOF-MS For the Detection of Tuberculosis-Associated Compounds
March 22nd 2024This study explores the feasibility of using human skin volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analyzed through comprehensive gas chromatography–time of flight–mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOF-MS) and chemometric techniques, to potentially serve as biomarkers for tuberculosis diagnosis.
Pittcon 2024: Identifying PFAS in Anti-Fog Products Using GC-TOFMS
February 25th 2024During a workshop at Pittcon, David Alonso of LECO Corporation discussed how gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) can be used to identify polyfluorinated alkyl chemicals (PFAS) chemicals in anti-fog product solutions.