Best of the Week: Pittcon Returns to Pittsburgh, Advancing Science Through Diversity
This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on trending topics in separation science, including our annual award winners and charting one’s path after earning your PhD. 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!
Pittcon Returns to Pittsburgh for the First Time in 60 Years
Aaron Acevedo
Pittcon is an international conference and exposition on laboratory science, showcasing the latest advancements in analytical research and scientific instrumentation. Its mission is to advance and enrich science by connecting scientists worldwide, facilitating the exchange of research and ideas, showcasing the latest in laboratory innovation, and funding science education and outreach at all levels. Recently, it was announced that after 60 years, Pittcon will be returning to Pittsburgh for its 2027 conference.
FeMS Empowerment Award Winner Josephine Ouma Discusses Women's History Month and Her Future
Aaron Acevedo
March is Women's History Month. This month, we are celebrating the work of women in analytical chemistry. As part of our coverage for this important month, we recently sat down with Josephine Ouma of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya, who is one of the Q1 2025 recipients of the FeMS Empowerment Award. In this final part of our interview with Ouma, we learned about what Women's History Month means to her. Additionally, she hints at what her future research efforts will entail after she earns her PhD.
Advancing Science Through Diversity: A Conversation with Women in Chromatography, Part 1
Kate Jones
In this first roundtable discussion focused on Women in Chromatography, LCGC International spoke with Diane Turner, Jacqueline Hamilton, and Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, who are all leading voices in the International Women in Chromatography group. Established on LinkedIn, the group is a professional community dedicated to supporting and connecting women involved in the field of chromatography. Recently, LCGC International spoke with Diane Turner, Jacqueline Hamilton, and Caroline Gauchotte-Lindsay, who are all leading voices in the LinkedIn International Women in Chromatography group.
Determining the Effectiveness and Safety of Cinnamon Derivatives for Diabetes Treatment with HPLC
John Chasse
Diabetes is a condition characterized by chronically high blood sugar, resulting from either inadequate insulin production or the body's resistance to insulin (6). According to statistical studies, the number of adults worldwide suffering from diabetes reached 537 million in 2021, with estimates of that number increasing to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. A joint study by Gazi University (Ankara, Turkey) and Düzce University (Düzce, Turkey) evaluated the major chemical content and in vitro antidiabetic activities of different commercially available cinnamon samples to determine whether they are safe to use for health-related reasons.
John Chasse
Global plastic production has surged to 348 million tons in 2017; however, approximately 21% of plastics are recycled, with the remainder accumulating in the environment (2). Plastics degrade due to factors such as ultraviolet radiation and mechanical wear, producing microplastics, or plastics with a diameter of less than 5 mm. Microplastics may impair reproductive health, raising concerns about developmental toxicity and long-term effects on health, with fetuses being particularly vulnerable to pollutant exposure. As a result, many scientists are investigating the health impacts of prenatal microplastic exposure.
Study Examines Impact of Zwitterionic Liquid Structures on Volatile Carboxylic Acid Separation in GC
March 28th 2025Iowa State University researchers evaluated imidazolium-based ZILs with sulfonate and triflimide anions to understand the influence of ZILs’ chemical structures on polar analyte separation.
Analytical Challenges in Measuring Migration from Food Contact Materials
November 2nd 2015Food contact materials contain low molecular weight additives and processing aids which can migrate into foods leading to trace levels of contamination. Food safety is ensured through regulations, comprising compositional controls and migration limits, which present a significant analytical challenge to the food industry to ensure compliance and demonstrate due diligence. Of the various analytical approaches, LC-MS/MS has proved to be an essential tool in monitoring migration of target compounds into foods, and more sophisticated approaches such as LC-high resolution MS (Orbitrap) are being increasingly used for untargeted analysis to monitor non-intentionally added substances. This podcast will provide an overview to this area, illustrated with various applications showing current approaches being employed.
Study Explores Thin-Film Extraction of Biogenic Amines via HPLC-MS/MS
March 27th 2025Scientists from Tabriz University and the University of Tabriz explored cellulose acetate-UiO-66-COOH as an affordable coating sorbent for thin film extraction of biogenic amines from cheese and alcohol-free beverages using HPLC-MS/MS.
Quantifying Microplastics in Meconium Samples Using Pyrolysis–GC-MS
March 26th 2025Using pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, scientists from Fudan University and the Putuo District Center for Disease Control and Prevention detected and quantified microplastics in newborn stool samples.
