Welcome to our Earth Day Celebration!
To commemorate Earth Day, LCGC International is profiling several chromatographers and their recent work in environmental analysis. We compile the Q&A interviews here for your enjoyment and ease of accessibility.
Welcome to our Earth Day Celebration!
To commemorate the holiday, LCGC International is proud to present 11 new interviews for you to read, with each interview spotlighting how chromatography is positively contributing to environmental analysis.
Begin your journey below. Happy reading!
Q&A #1
Title: Detecting Drugs and Psychoactive Substances in Influent Urban Wastewater: An Interview with Richard Bade
Summary: Wastewater analysis serves as a surveillance tool for various markers, including lifestyle, exposure, population size, and health indicators. Traditional methods focus on predefined analytes, but face challenges with dynamic substances like new psychoactive substances (NPS). Richard Bade and colleagues have recently published a paper outlining the development and application of a new workflow utilizing the open-source platform InSpectra, aiming to complement targeted analysis and identify geographical spatial trends in wastewater samples across multiple countries.
Interviewee: Richard Bade, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) and The University of Queensland (Australia)
Technique Covered: Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS)
Q&A #2
Title: A Pyr-GC-Orbitrap-MS Method for Analyzing Microplastics in Air:
An Interview with Silvia Lacorte
Summary: While previous studies have already proposed pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC–MS) methods for microplastic analysis, one of the main constraints with the technique is the lack of standards; method validation procedures to ensure quality control, therefore, cannot be implemented. However, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has been shown to provide accurate mass measurements of the different polymers that can overcome limitations such as lack of sensitivity or selectivity, thus offering the possibility to couple a pyrolytic unit in a GC–Orbital trap-MS and increasing the potential for MP analysis in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, precision, resolution, and mass accuracy. In a recent paper, Silvia Lacorte and colleagues share the results of using this method to simultaneously determine the presence of 10 polymers in air.
Interviewees: Silvia Lacorte, Department of Environmental Chemistry at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (Barcelona, Spain)
Techniques Covered: Pyr-GC–MS and HRMS
Q&A #3
Title: Sustainability and Environmental Awareness in the World of Separation Science
Summary: This interview presents a discussion of the issues associated sustainability and environmental awareness in separation science, particularly as related to HPLC methods.
Interviewee: Dwight R. Stoll, Gustavus Adolphus College
Techniques & Topics Covered: HPLC, LC and 2D-LC, Automation, Chemometrics
Q&A #4
Title: An Integrative Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD), Up-to-date Greenness, and Whiteness Set of Tools for Evaluation of a Sustainable RP-HPLC Method for Regulated Products
Summary: Sustainability efforts and tools are described for establishing an RP-HPLC method for analysis of regulated products. These sustainability tools include Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) methodology; and the application of ChlorTox scale, greenness indicators, and whiteness score metrics.
Interviewee: Hemanth Kumar Chanduluru, SRM Institute of Science and Technology
Techniques & Topics Covered: RP-HPLC, AQbD, ChlorTox, Greenness and Whiteness scales
Q&A #5
Title: An Inside Look at the Analytical Method Greenness Score in High Performance Liquid Chromatography Enantioseparations: An Earth Day Interview with Daniel Armstrong
Summary: Daniel Armstrong, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas at Arlington, and his colleagues recently proposed mathematical strategies to minimize analytical method greenness scores (AMGS) in HPLC enantioseparations. We sat down with Armstrong to talk about his team’s research and findings.
Interviewee: Daniel Armstrong, University of Texas at Arlington
Technique Covered: HPLC
Q&A #6
Title: Magnetic Field-Controlled Chromatography for Fractionation of Rare-Earth Containing Phosphors: An Interview with Laura Kuger
Summary: Laura Kuger of the Institute for Functional Interfaces (IFG) together with Matthias Franzreb are examining the feasibility of using magnetic field-controlled chromatography to fractionate various rare earth-containing phosphors from end-of-life fluorescent lamps, aiming to develop more effective recycling processes for these valuable materials (1). LCGC International sat down with Kuger to discuss her research and the challenges in scaling up magnetic field-controlled chromatography for industrial applications.
Interviewee: Laura Kuger, Institute for Functional Interfaces (IFG)
Technique Covered: Magnetic Field-Controlled Chromatography
Q&A #7
Title: Thermo Fisher PFAS Expert Discusses Laboratory Testing, Regulatory Partnerships
Summary: Toby Astill, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s expert on PFAS detection, talks with LCGC about the U.S. FDA’s recent decision to ban manufacturers from selling food contact use products containing grease-proofing substances comprised of PFAS. He also addresses how PFAS laboratory testing is done, and what communities can do to better protect themselves from exposure to these “forever chemicals.”
Interviewee: Toby Astill, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Topic Covered: General Expertise in Laboratory Testing
Q&A #8
Title: Chromatography and PFAS Degradation Challenges: An Interview with Katelyn Michael
Summary: Katelyn Michael, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student, recently won the Metrohm Young Chemist Award for her research using electrochemistry to improve degradation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), one of the most prevalent and well-known PFAS. In a Q&A with LCGC, Michael explains how chromatographic techniques such as liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and ion chromatography assist her in sampling.
Interviewee: Katelyn Michael, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Techniques Covered: LC–MS, Ion Chromatography
Q&A #9
Title: Angela Calderón Discusses Importance of Sustainable Analysis Techniques
Summary: In this interview, Angela Isabel Calderón of Auburn University discusses how using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) can prove beneficial when integrated into high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems.
Interviewee: Angela Isabel Calderón, Auburn University
Techniques Covered: LC, HPLC
Q&A #10
Title: The Impact of Emerging Markets on Cannabis Testing
Summary: In this roundtable interview, Zac Hildenbrand of Infinity Water Solutions gives an overview of the latest trends and techniques in cannabis analysis.
KOL & Interviewee: Zach Hildenbrand, Infinity Water Solutions
Techniques Covered: GC, LC, LC–MS, HPLC
Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/emerging-markets-cannabis-testing
Q&A #11
Title: Analytica 2024: An Interview with Elia Psillakis
Summary: At Analytica 2024 in Munich, Germany, LCGC International sat down with Elia Psillakis of Technical University of Crete to discuss circular analytical chemistry and the importance of sustainable chemistry.
Interviewee: Elia Psillakis of Technical University of Crete
Topic Covered: Circular Analytical Chemistry
Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/analytica-2024-an-interview-with-elia-psillakis
To continue your exploration of the latest in environmental analysis and sustainability, LCGC International has created two other landing pages for you to explore. Click on one below to continue your Earth Day celebration with us!
LCGC International Celebrates Earth Day – A Look at our Focus on Environmental Analysis Column
LCGC International Celebrates Earth Day – The Latest News in Environmental Analysis
Using Chromatography to Study Microplastics in Food: An Interview with Jose Bernal
December 16th 2024LCGC International sat down with Jose Bernal to discuss his latest research in using pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) and other chromatographic techniques in studying microplastics in food analysis.
Overcoming Common Challenges to Determine Residual Impurities Using IC in APIs with Limited Water
December 10th 2024Organic solvents are generally not compatible with ion chromatography (IC) systems. The approach presented here assists the use of organic solvents for sample preparation and provides a mechanism for the removal of the organic solvents from the chromatographic flow path.
The Chromatographic Society 2025 Martin and Jubilee Award Winners
December 6th 2024The Chromatographic Society (ChromSoc) has announced the winners of the Martin Medal and the Silver Jubilee Medal for 2025. Professor Bogusław Buszewski of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland, has been awarded the prestigious Martin Medal, and the 2025 Silver Jubilee Medal has been awarded to Elia Psillakis of the Technical University of Crete in Greece.
