Chromatography on the Front Lines of the Gulf Oil Spill
LCGC North America
The tragic Gulf Oil Spill, which has gripped the nation's collective consciousness for most of the summer, is only now beginning to turn the corner toward a long, slow recovery.
The tragic Gulf Oil Spill, which has gripped the nation's collective consciousness for most of the summer, is only now beginning to turn the corner toward a long, slow recovery. With the leak capped and a relief well being dug to provide a permanent solution to this ongoing natural disaster, it is now finally time to turn our attention to how to go about cleaning up the mess. However, before this work can get started, it is also necessary to identify just how much damage has been done and just how much mess there is to clean up.
Secondary and tertiary effects of the spill will be felt for decades to come, and one of the most critical to everyday life will be the continued contamination of the food supply in this bountiful area of the globe. A huge percentage of the world's seafood supply comes from the Gulf of Mexico, and making sure this supply remains safe and uncontaminated is one of the biggest issues facing those in charge of the clean up. And as usual, LCGC will be leading the way in bringing readers the latest cutting-edge information and research on this topic.
It is no secret to LCGC's audience of chromatographers that the lion's share of food testing will be (and is being) performed with chromatographic instrumentation and techniques, and LCGC has already hosted one gripping web seminar on this topic, with several more to follow. In addition, food safety and testing headlined an issue of the "E-Separation Solutions" newsletter last month, and this topic will be addressed again in an upcoming feature article in LCGC North America, which we hope you will find useful.
In short, as with all cutting-edge applications of chromatography, LCGC is your best resource for research and practical information, and the testing of the Gulf food supply is just one more example of this.
David Walsh
David Walsh
Editor-in-Chief David.Walsh@advanstar.com
New Study Uses MSPE with GC–MS to Analyze PFCAs in Water
January 20th 2025Scientists from the China University of Sciences combined magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to analyze perfluoro carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in different water environments.
The Next Frontier for Mass Spectrometry: Maximizing Ion Utilization
January 20th 2025In this podcast, Daniel DeBord, CTO of MOBILion Systems, describes a new high resolution mass spectrometry approach that promises to increase speed and sensitivity in omics applications. MOBILion recently introduced the PAMAF mode of operation, which stands for parallel accumulation with mobility aligned fragmentation. It substantially increases the fraction of ion used for mass spectrometry analysis by replacing the functionality of the quadrupole with high resolution ion mobility. Listen to learn more about this exciting new development.
A Guide To Finding the Ideal Syringe and Needle
January 20th 2025Hamilton has produced a series of reference guides to assist science professionals in finding the best-suited products and configurations for their applications. The Syringe and Needle Reference Guide provides detailed information on Hamilton Company’s full portfolio of syringes and needles. Everything from cleaning and preventative maintenance to individual part numbers are available for review. It also includes selection charts to help you choose between syringe terminations like cemented needles and luer tips.
The Complexity of Oligonucleotide Separations
January 9th 2025Peter Pellegrinelli, Applications Specialist at Advanced Materials Technology (AMT) explains the complexity of oligonucleotide separations due to the unique chemical properties of these molecules. Issues such as varying length, sequence complexity, and hydrophilic-hydrophobic characteristics make efficient separations difficult. Separation scientists are addressing these challenges by modifying mobile phase compositions, using varying ion-pairing reagents, and exploring alternative separation modes like HILIC and ion-exchange chromatography. Due to these complexities, AMT has introduced the HALO® OLIGO column, which offers high-resolution, fast separations through its innovative Fused-Core® technology and high pH stability. Alongside explaining the new column, Peter looks to the future of these separations and what is next to come.
Oasis or Sand Dune? Isolation of Psychedelic Compounds
January 20th 2025Magic mushrooms, once taboo, have recently experienced a renaissance. This new awakening is partially due to new findings that indicate the effects of psilocybin, and its dephosphorylated cousin psilocin may produce long lasting results for patients who might be struggling with anxiety, depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Hamilton Company has developed a methodology for the isolation and identification of 5 common psychedelic compounds used in the potential treatment of disease. The PRP-1 HPLC column resin remains stable in the harsh alkaline conditions ideal for better separations.
