Best of the Week: ISC 2024 Preview, HPLC 2024 Highlights, Maximizing Scientific Data

This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on the hottest topics in chromatography. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles, according to our readers. Happy reading!

Imagine a World of Chromatography

Tony Edge

The International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC) brings together industry experts and key opinion leaders to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and research in separation science. ISC is known as a premier meeting for discussing various chromatography modes and separation science applications across fields like pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, environment, food, and health. This year, the ISC’s theme is “Imagine a world of Chromatography” will see conference attendees discuss a wide variety of disciplines where chromatography plays a crucial role. Focus will be on the recent technological breakthroughs, fundamentals, and applications of chromatographic techniques in various sectors (1).

Highlights from the 52nd International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques (HPLC 2024)

Cory E. Muraco

The 52nd International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques (HPLC 2024) was held in Denver, Colorado, and chaired by Susan Olesik (The Ohio State University). Continuing a long-standing trend, the HPLC symposium is the premier gathering of separation scientists in liquid chromatography and related techniques. The conference was composed of high-quality oral presentations from leading scientists, engaging poster sessions with scientists and students from all levels, and numerous opportunities to network and reconnect with colleagues and friends. In this installment of “Column Watch,” notable trends and highlights from the conference are described (2).

Leveraging an Enterprise Laboratory Informatics Platform to Maximize Scientific Data Advantage

Matt Grulke, Denise Bell

Today, data management is on everyone’s minds. With modern analytical instrumentation and advanced experimentation, scientists are producing larger and larger volumes of data. Across an organization, those data volumes multiply, often resulting in much potential value being wasted. As data volumes and expectations for fast scientific discovery continue to increase, laboratory-based research organizations can no longer rely on a siloed approach to data management. To remain competitive, scientific organizations need to connect all their data, from discovery through manufacturing, in a unified informatics platform. Faced with these challenges, leaders at competitive scientific organizations seek modern informatics solutions, to get more from their data. As they do, they may consider tools designed for various aspects of their business (3).

Determining Volatile Impurities and Ethanol Content in Hand Sanitizers with GC–MS

John Chasse

Hand hygiene is a simple and yet effective method in the decreasing of transmission of infections in public or in healthcare settings, and this has led to the prevalent use of hand sanitizers has emerged, especially with the notable increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 starting in December 2019. Researchers at Lebanese American University performed a study focused on the assessment of volatile impurities and ethanol content in ethanol-based hand sanitizers (4). The sanitizers included in the study were analyzed using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to detect impurities and determine alcohol content for compliance, and various volatile impurities were identified through the analysis of mass spectrometry databases. In addition, the researchers conducted a simulated toxicological analysis to evaluate the potential toxic effects associated with hand sanitizer usage.

The Reality Behind Column Insertion Distance

Chris English

Column insertion distance is critical to good chromatography. What happens if the column is installed is too low in the injection port? Is insertion distance more important when performing split injection, or splitless injection? Does the position of the column in the injection port impact reproducibility? In English’s previous article, he evaluated wool in different positions in the liner which included wool at the top, wool at the bottom, wool at the center, and no wool. Wool at the center for split injections was found to provide the best vaporization of the sample and thus low relative standard deviations and high recoveries for a broad range of compounds. Thus, he poses this question: “Building on this work, if we use optimized conditions and wool in the correct position, what are the effects to the system when the column is installed too high or too low in the injection port?” (5).

References

(1) Edge, T. Imagine a World of Chromatography. MJH Life Sciences 2024. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/imagine-a-world-of-chromatography (accessed 2024-9-11)

(2) Muraco, C. E. Highlights from the 52nd International Symposium on High Performance Liquid Phase Separations and Related Techniques (HPLC 2024). MJH Life Sciences 2024. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/highlights-from-the-52nd-international-symposium-on-high-performance-liquid-phase-separations-and-related-techniques-hplc-2024- (accessed 2024-9-11)

(3) Grulke, M.; Bell, D. Leveraging an Enterprise Laboratory Informatics Platform to Maximize Scientific Data Advantage. MJH Life Sciences 2024. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/leveraging-an-enterprise-laboratory-informatics-platform-to-maximize-scientific-data-advantage (accessed 2024-9-11)

(4) Chasse, J. Determining Volatile Impurities and Ethanol Content in Hand Sanitizers with GC–MS. MJH Life Sciences 2024. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/determining-volatile-impurities-and-ethanol-content-in-hand-sanitizers-with-gc-ms (accessed 2024-9-11)

(5) English, C. The Reality Behind Column Insertion Distance. MJH Life Sciences 2024. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/the-reality-behind-column-insertion-distance (accessed 2024-9-11)