Application Notes: General

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of over 4000 organic fluorinated compounds, which have been widely used in industry since the 1950s. Due to their widespread presence and potential health risks, accurate PFAS analysis is essential to monitor contamination, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect human health and the environment. In this eBook, we explore our range of chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS) solutions for detecting very low levels of PFAS in matrices such as drinking water, wastewater, ambient air, foodstuffs, and consumer products. Plus, learn through a series of case studies how our LC-MS/MS systems and other analytical instruments (GCMS, CIC, QTOF…) meet and often exceed performance criteria included in EPA and AOAC methods for PFAS analysis – generating accurate results with fast turnaround times that enhance lab productivity.

Advances in analytical methods continue to enhance food authenticity testing, emphasizing untargeted fingerprinting, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and rapid portable tools. Techniques like DART-HRMS and LC–MS enable detection of adulteration at low levels, with robust validation and harmonization critical for legal and industrial confidence. Integrating chemometrics and developing standardized databases are key to addressing evolving food fraud challenges.

Unlock precise analysis of sgRNA and its impurities with high resolution IP-RP using the bioinert-coated YMC Accura Triart Bio C18 column.

Achieve robust tirzepatide analysis through a structured RP method enabling consistent workflows and easy transfer to other GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Ensure confident PFOS detection in complex food matrices with advanced LC-MS separation using the bioinert YMC Accura Triart C18 column.

This article explains why carrier gas selection remains critical for modern gas chromatography (GC) and GC–MS workflows. The discussion explores the ongoing relevance of helium, the performance advantages of BIP® Helium for high-sensitivity applications, and how laboratories can balance cost, efficiency, and sustainability through informed carrier gas strategies.

Accelerate a novel approach for mRNA characterization with innovative 2D-LC fingerprinting using a bioinert-coated YMC Accura Bio Pro IEX QF column.

Achieve precise purity analysis of peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates using an optimized IP-RP method with a bioinert YMC Accura Triart Bio C18 column for reliable QC.

Simplify mRNA encapsulation efficiency analysis with robust AEX separation delivering precise results and deeper insight into LNP quality.

BrightSpec's platform achieved LODs of 3 ppm for EG and 60 ppm for DEG in PEG-400. Linearity was strong and repeatability remained under 4%.

Accelerate oligonucleotide analysis with bioinert YMC Accura BioPro IEX QF column enabling high-resolution separation in under two minutes for efficient QC workflows.

Structural misassignment risks propagating errors. MRR spectroscopy with molecular modeling discriminates viridiflorol, globulol, and stereoisomers sans reference standards.

Improved analysis of tryptophan and its metabolites using a bioinert YMC Accura Triart C18 column enabling reliable results in complex biological matrices.

BrightSpec's isoMRR™ platform directly detects EtO and acetaldehyde in PEG-3350, meeting USP LOQ criteria in under one minute with no sample prep

This application note demonstrates how BrightSpec's platform provides a faster, simpler alternative to GC-MS for residual solvent analysis in pharmaceutical products

Fast GC/MS method analyzes 76 pesticides per EPA 525 in under 8.5 min using the PerkinElmer GC system, ensuring compliance, sensitivity, and resolution.

Fast GC/MS method for SVOC per EPA 8270E: 87 compounds analyzed in ~14 min with high accuracy, compliance, and repeatability

As regulatory mandates push PFAS detection limits toward single-digit PPT levels, the pervasive threat of background contamination from solvents and instrument components has emerged as a defining challenge for modern laboratories. Proper data defensibility requires a rigorous, end-to-end mitigation strategy that prioritizes the replacement of fluoropolymer materials with inert alternatives as well as the implementation of delay columns to isolate system-derived interference. Ultimately, adopting a proactive approach to workflow integrity, through the use of certified consumables and specialized tools, is essential for laboratories to stay ahead of tightening environmental standards and expanding target lists.

Explore practical strategies for reducing PFAS contamination risks in food testing workflows with guidance on troubleshooting, blank management, chromatography optimization, and contamination control. This quick-reference resource highlights common sources of false positives and false negatives while outlining best practices for achieving reliable low-ppt PFAS analysis across complex food matrices.

Stay current on the evolving global PFAS regulatory landscape with insights into food testing legislation, compliance requirements, and analytical methods across Europe, the United States, and China. Explore guidance on PFAS limits in food and packaging, LC/MS/MS testing workflows, and strategies for accurate, high-sensitivity analysis in complex food matrices. Learn how laboratories can streamline PFAS testing while supporting regulatory readiness and food safety confidence.

Struggling with PFAS analysis in complex food and beverage samples? In this application note, Agilent demonstrates a streamlined workflow for the determination of PFAS in beer and wine using QuEChERS extraction followed by Captiva EMR PFAS Food I cleanup

This eBook explores the evolution of HPLC from a breakthrough analytical technique into a modern, software-assisted framework for Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD). Through expert perspectives and real-world use cases, readers will learn how design-space modeling, lifecycle management, and in-silico robustness testing can streamline method development, improve transferability, and support regulatory compliance.

The EDGE PFAS™ system simplifies and accelerates PFAS extraction with a fully automated workflow that meets EPA Method 1633 requirements. Delivering results in under 15 minutes per sample, it enables faster throughput while maintaining clean, reliable performance.

PFAS “forever chemicals” continue to accumulate in soil and tissue, driving the need for faster, more reliable environmental testing. This study demonstrates how automated extraction following EPA Method 1633A enables efficient analysis of 40 PFAS compounds from complex sample types. Using the EDGE PFAS system, extractions were completed in under 15 minutes per sample with strong recoveries and no carryover. The approach supports high-throughput workflows while maintaining accuracy and consistency in PFAS monitoring.

Streamline PFAS analysis with automated SPE using dual-phase WAX/Carbon S cartridges, delivering reliable recoveries and improved lab efficiency in compliance with US EPA Method 1633.

In this “Pittcon 2026 Highlights” e-book, explore the latest ongoing advancements in analytical chemistry and spectroscopy presented at the Pittcon 2026 conference. This resource covers hot topics such as PFAS forensics, microplastics analysis, green chemistry, and generative artificial intelligence (AI). Gain a quick look at the technologies shaping analytical chemistry and spectroscopy in 2026.

PFAS are long-lasting chemical compounds used in many industrial and consumer applications, now widely detected in the environment and linked to potential health concerns. This eBook gathers studies on PFAS presence in air, soil, and water, exploring exposure pathways, analytical approaches, and ongoing efforts to better understand and address their environmental persistence.