The 2014 Instrumental Innovations; Environmental Speciation; and Transferring a Chromatogram into the Molar Mass Distribution

Top 14 articles from The Column in 2014...

LC–MS–Based Methods for Identifying Drugs of Abuse in Oral Fluids for Forensic Toxicology Applications

This article reviewed key developments and potential advantages of using LC–MS for forensic toxicology, including the option of using oral fluid samples.

Back to Basics

Incognito goes back to basics with standard laboratory skills. How do you use your pipette properly?

Tips & Tricks GPC/SEC: Mobile Phase Considerations

There are many sources of advice on how to select the most appropriate stationary phase for sample analysis, but the mobile phase is not often discussed. This article provides tips for selecting the most appropriate mobile phase for your analysis.

Flavour and Fragrance Analysis: Wondrous Vanilla

There are over 100 different types of vanilla, all characterized by different aroma profiles. Stephen J. Toth from the State University of New Jersey in the USA investigated this further in his doctoral dissertation to find a unified method to determine volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in vanilla pods and extracts, and his work is discussed in this short article.

HILIC: The Pros and Cons

Davy Guillarme, a senior lecturer at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Switzerland — and the winner of the 2013 LCGC Emerging Leader in Chromatography Award — addressed common user questions about the pros and cons of HILIC.

Optimizing Flavour Analysis Using Modern Heart-Cutting MDGC

In this review recent technological advances in classical heart-cuttting two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC–GC) were outlined. These developments are then illustrated by application to analysis of important flavour compounds at trace levels in very complex matrices. The technology can even be extended to three-dimensional capability (GC–GC–GC) for the most complex challenges.

The Classification of Columns for SFC Use

A column classification system for SFC to help with method development has been developed. This article demonstrates how the system can be used to select a column when developing a new SFC method.

Fast and Accurate Determination of Algal Toxins in Water Using On-line Preconcentration and UHPLC–HRAM–MS

The development of a column-switching technique based on on-line preconcentration and high-resolution accurate mass full-scan mass spectrometry (HRAM–MS) to obtain fast and accurate results for the determination of algal toxins in drinking water is discussed.

Teaching Old Drugs New Tricks

James Frahill, who is a Research Analyst at the Pfizer Process Development Centre (Cork, Republic of Ireland) spoke to The Column about the role of the chromatographer in the pharmaceutical process development group at Pfizer.

Fractal Chromatography: A New Phase in Separation Science?

The Column spoke to Tony Edge of Thermo Fisher Scientific about the development of a new type of stationary phase based on fractal-shaped particles.

Flow Path Considerations for Improved SFC Analyses

Certain considerations must be made with regards to the overall ﬂow path used in a SFC analysis to ensure additional obstacles are not introduced inadvertently. This article provided more information.

Growing Fruit — and Economies

Detection of low concentrations of pesticides within complex matrices, such as orange juice and wine, is a complex process that requires a high level of sensitivity. This article details how a newly developed “dilute-and-shoot” sample preparation method for LC–MS–MS multi-residue monitoring (MRM) pesticide screening can be performed to overcome matrix effects.

Characterization of Allergens in Cosmetics by GCXGC–TOF–MS with Variable-Energy Electron Ionization

The detection and quantitation of allergens in complex cosmetics extracts using two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-fight mass spectrometry (GC×GC–TOF–MS) is described. In particular, variable-energy electron ionization is shown to enhance both the sensitivity and selectivity of analyses by generating mass spectra containing structurally significant fragment ions with an improved molecular ion signal.

A New Frontier: NanoLC–NanoESI–MS in Astrobiology

Mike Callahan, an analytical chemist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland, USA), led a team to develop a new nano LC–nano ESI–MS method to detect life’s building blocks in "spacedust". Callahan spoke to The Column about the inspiration behind the project, the challenges of analyzing extraterrestrial material in the laboratory, and future directions.