07 November 2014 Issue

Look inside for practical advice on separation science and thought–provoking commentary.

The importance of UHPLC–MS–MS to successful food safety analysis

Dr Kevin Cooper of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, spoke to The Column about the importance of accuracy, reliability, and stability in food safety analysis and the role of ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography linked to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS–MS) in his research.

Determining VOCs in vanilla

There are over 100 different types of vanilla, all characterized by different aroma profiles. To determine vanilla origin, and for quality control purposes, laboratories typically rely on headspace or thermal desorption techniques used in combination with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). This article explains more.

The advantages of core–shell technology for food testing

A brief overview of the advantages of core–shell technology for liquid chromatography (LC) separations with practical advice for chromatographers who are focused on developing or improving food testing methods is presented.

Detecting pesticides in food using MS

Pesticides can be very effective at protecting food crops; however, there are food safety concerns over the levels of pesticide residues found in foods for human consumption. This article discusses the advantages and limitations of mass spectrometry (MS) applied to the detection of pesticide residues in food.