Seeing in the New Year... or Making Sure the Old One Leaves
LCGC North America
By the time readers are opening the pages of this issue, we will all have turned the calendar on 2009 and left it behind for what will hopefully be a brighter 2010. Humorist Bill Vaughan once famously said of New Year's Eve: "An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." Given the financial year we all just experienced, my suspicion is there may be a few more people in the latter group than in the former this year. However, here at LCGC, we can't help but be optimistic about 2010.
By the time readers are opening the pages of this issue, we will all have turned the calendar on 2009 and left it behind for what will hopefully be a brighter 2010. Humorist Bill Vaughan once famously said of New Year's Eve: "An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." Given the financial year we all just experienced, my suspicion is there may be a few more people in the latter group than in the former this year. However, here at LCGC, we can't help but be optimistic about 2010.
David Walsh
One of the centerpieces of the upcoming year is undoubtedly the official launching of the CHROMacademy e-learning site and its corresponding social network, the CHROMmunity. Four industry-leading "Deans" head up the different sections of the academy, with LCGC veterans John Hinshaw, Ron Majors, and Michael Balogh in charge of the GC, Sample Prep, and MS sections, respectively, and 2009 LCGC Emerging Leader award winner Kevin Schug in charge of LC. In short, viewers will be learning from an all-star lineup of chromatographers, and the tutorials and learning modules offered on the site will be second to none in the field.
In addition, I often talk about LCGC's commitment to delivering content in as wide a variety of media as possible, making use of all of the content vehicles of the day. To this end, the CHOMmunity marks LCGC's formal entrance into the world of social media and networking. Far more than a simple group page on a larger network, the CHROMmunity is the premiere social network for chromatographers, bringing viewers cutting-edge technical discussions with industry colleagues, educational videos, the latest industry events, and more. I would invite readers to visit CHROMacademy at www.chromacademy.com at their earliest convenience and see everything the site has to offer. The site is up and running, and links to the CHROMmunity can be found there as well.
Whether you stayed up on New Year's Eve to welcome in 2010 or make sure 2009 left for good, there is a great deal in the world of separation science to look forward to in the coming year, and as usual, LCGC will be at the forefront, bringing you the latest developments in the field of chromatography.
So once again, on behalf of all of us at LCGC, Happy New Year. Here's hoping we will all be staying up to wish 2010 a fond goodbye next December 31st.
David Walsh
Editor-in-Chief
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.
