Best of the Week: Future of Green Chromatography, BASF and Mingyang Collaboration, Cannabis Analysis

This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on trending topics in separation science, including a new collaboration between BASF and Mingyang and discussions on the growth of green chemistry. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles that were published this week in no particular order.

We’d love to hear from you! Is there a topic you’d like to see covered in LCGC? Share your ideas with us—we value your feedback and are committed to exploring the subjects that matter most to our readers. Email chroncich@mjhlifesciences.com with your thoughts. Happy reading!

How Green is the Future of Chromatography?

Kate Jones

As the world becomes ever more conscious of environmental sustainability, science continues to evolve to meet the growing demand for greener practices. With its widespread application in pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, food safety, and forensics, chromatography has a role to play in reducing the environmental footprint of the laboratory. With this retrospective, Kate Jones of LCGC International discusses how green chemistry is becoming more of a necessity in today’s world.

BASF and Mingyang Collaborate on Power-to-X Solutions

Aaron Acevedo

Chemical companies BASF and Mingyang announced a collaboration to develop advanced materials and technical solutions that cater to different industries’ sustainable needs. The partnership focuses on Power-to-X (P2X) materials and technologies, enhancing cooperation in technology and business sectors. P2X refers to when conversion technologies turn electricity into carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, such as hydrogen, synthetic natural gas, or chemicals. With this partnership, both companies hope to advance large-scale application of green hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol in China.

Quantifying Terpenes in Hydrodistilled Cannabis sativa Essential Oil with GC-MS

John Chasse

A recent study conducted at the University of Georgia, (Athens, Georgia) presented a validated method for quantifying 18 terpenes in Cannabis sativa essential oil, extracted via hydrodistillation. The method, utilizing gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with selected ion monitoring (SIM), includes using internal standards (n-tridecane and octadecane) for accurate analysis, with key validation parameters—such as specificity, accuracy, precision, and detection limits—thoroughly assessed. This approach offers a simple, solvent-free extraction process combined with a precise analytical technique, supporting both therapeutic and industrial applications of C. sativa terpenes. LCGC International spoke to Noelle Joy of the University of Georgia, corresponding author of this paper discussing the method, about its creation and benefits it offers the analytical community.

Exploring How Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing Impacts Diabetes Control Using UHPLC-MS/MS

John Chasse

Duodenal mucosal resurfacing (DMR), a new-style endoscopic procedure using hydrothermal energy to ablate this thickened layer, shows promise for enhancing glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes patients. However, the mechanisms driving these improvements remain largely unexplored. A joint study between the Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (Jiangsu Province, China) and Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, Virginia) set out to investigate the mechanisms by which DMR improves metabolic disorders using a rat model. Serum assays measured glucose, lipid profiles, lipopolysaccharide, and intestinal hormones, while the gut microbiota and metabolomics profiles were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

A Sustainable Approach to Green Sample Preparation and Analytical Performance Using HS-SPME-GC–QTOF-MS

Kate Jones

LCGC International spoke to Adrián de la Fuente and Silvia Valverde Bastardo from the University of Valladolid, Spain, about the development of a miniaturized headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–QTOF-MS) method for the analysis of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by native Spanish trees. Green assessment tools, including the analytical greenness calculator [AGREE], analytical greenness metric for sample preparation [AGREEprep], the complex green analytical procedure index [ComplexGAPI])AGREE, AGREEprep, and the ComplexGAPI were implemented to assess sustainability.