John Chasse

By utilizing gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS) alongside stirred barrel sorption extraction and pyrolysis, researchers were able to systematically track how aromatic compounds in cigar tobacco leaves transform into mainstream smoke. Pinpointing these complex chemical transitions allowed this GC-O-MS approach to provide a scientific foundation for precisely evaluating cigar quality, optimizing formulations, and understanding the sensory experiences that drive consumer preference.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure plasma concentrations of the oxysterols 24 S-OHC and 27-OHC was used to evaluate their potential as biomarkers for early-onset schizophrenia (EOS). These chromatography-derived insights suggest that sexually dimorphic cholesterol metabolism may play a role in the differing clinical expressions of EOS, offering new avenues for understanding underlying disease mechanisms.

Researchers developed a green, supramolecular solvent-based microextraction approach using naturally occurring components (decyl glucoside and linalool) to preconcentrate toxic benzimidazole fungicides (thiabendazole and carbendazim) from vegetable samples. Following the extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) was utilized to precisely determine the fungicide levels. This environmentally friendly chromatography method achieved high extraction recoveries (over 98%) and reliable precision in real vegetable matrices (such as potato, beetroot, and ginger), demonstrating its robust potential for monitoring hazardous agricultural residues and ensuring food safety.

Ultrahigh-performance supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPSFC/MS) was used to perform lipidomic profiling of plasma and serum samples to develop a noninvasive, blood-based diagnostic tool for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The findings suggest that UHPSFC/MS lipidomic profiling holds significant promise as a highly sensitive and specific screening method for early-stage pancreatic cancer, potentially outperforming current diagnostic standards.

A novel workflow combining comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) with computer vision (CV) was developed to analyze the complex volatile profiles of coffee. By generating composite class images and using targeted extraction alongside multivariate analysis, the approach successfully overcame analytical challenges to accurately identify key characteristic compounds. This reproducible, data-driven method offers a reliable strategy for distinguishing coffee origins and assessing quality based on its intricate chemical makeup.

Entrepreneur Alexandra Knauer, managing director of lab instrument manufacturer Knauer, is honored in the USA with the Pittcon Heritage Award 2026.

A pilot study utilizing comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOF MS) to analyze volatile compounds in the breath of patients successfully identified specific breath markers that can effectively differentiate the life-threatening infectious disease melioidosis from other febrile illnesses with high sensitivity and specificity.

Researchers used LC-MS/MS to analyze 52 sake samples from Japan for neonicotinoids and other insecticides. 88% contained detectable insecticides, with dinotefuran being the most common. Contamination levels were comparable to Asian red wines but exceeded EU red wines. While individual risks appear low, the combined effects of alcohol and insecticides raise concerns.

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC–QTOF-MS) was used for the analysis of serum and urine metabolites in patients with cirrhosis. By identifying dysregulated pathways—including tryptophan and glycerophospholipid metabolism—researchers established a dual-biofluid diagnostic strategy. This metabolomics approach offers a non-invasive method for identifying biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for liver cirrhosis detection.

Osaka University researchers developed a non-destructive model to predict banana ripeness by analyzing emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) regression, they accurately linked VOC composition to color and sugar content. This metabolomics-based approach aims to replace destructive testing, offering a practical tool for improving banana supply chain management.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify creatine, creatinine, and guanidinoacetic acid in saliva and serum samples from young adults before and after exercise. While salivary creatine and creatinine levels increased significantly post-exercise, serum creatine remained stable, highlighting distinct metabolite dynamics between these two biological fluids during physical exertion.

A recent study employed high-throughput liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to perform comprehensive metabolic profiling on plasma samples from nearly 4,000 women. By leveraging the separation power of chromatography and the sensitivity of mass spectrometry, researchers identified specific metabolic perturbations, such as steroid esters and triglycerides, linked to the risk of hearing loss. These findings demonstrate how automated analytical platforms can uncover novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for complex sensory disorders.

A sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method utilizing immunoaffinity enrichment to has been developed to quantify donanemab, an Alzheimer’s therapy, in human serum. The process involves immunoaffinity capture followed by tryptic digestion and targeted peptide quantification, and provides a robust, high-precision alternative to traditional immunoassays for monitoring therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in clinical settings.

Methods for Detecting and Characterizing PFAS in the Environment is scheduled to take place at Pittcon on Sunday, March 8, from 8:30 am -11:00 am in Room 303C of the Henry B. González Conference Center. Seven speakers from industry and academia will gather to explore and evaluate approaches for uncovering and distinguishing these chemicals to assess the potential human health and environmental risks they present.

The session Next-Generation Drug Development Enabled by Automation, Digitalization, and AI/ML is scheduled to take place at Pittcon 2026 in San Antonio, TX, on Monday, March 9, from 8:30 am–10:40 am in Room 304B of the Henry B. González Conference Center. A quartet of industry professionals will come together to share how automation and AI are revolutionizing modern drug development.

Researchers at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Piacenza, Italy) used UHPLC-QTOF to profile phenolic compounds in forages and analyze metabolomics in milk used to produce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. IM-HRMS lipidomics revealed how different cow diets—such as grass-enriched versus alfalfa-based—modulate specific triacylglycerols, sphingomyelins, and plant-derived metabolites within the milk composition.

Researchers from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) have introduced lack-of-fit (LOF), a peak-shape congruence measure that gauges the residual mismatch between candidate signals within a narrow retention window; pairs scoring below 20% are deemed degenerate and grouped together. LCGC International spoke to Caitlin Cain, lead author of the paper presenting this work, about her group’s research.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was coupled with high-abundance protein depletion to identify potential biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Comparative proteomic profiling of RA and healthy sera revealed 154 differentially expressed proteins, and identified five potential RA-associated biomarkers, offering insights into RA pathogenesis and early diagnosis.

Using gas chromatography (GC) to analyze fatty acid (FA) profiles in milk from native goats, managed under grazing versus housed systems, the results indicated that grazing led to a more favorable FA profile, while housed goats produced higher milk yields.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to identify plasma biomarkers for global developmental delay (GDD) and intellectual disability (ID). High-resolution chromatography enabled the detection of key metabolites like 2-ketohexanoic acid and lipids such as diacylglycerol (16:0/16:0), which demonstrated exceptional diagnostic accuracy (AUC > 0.91), highlighting significant dysregulation in sphingolipid and amino acid metabolic pathways.

Research conducted at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Hospital utilized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to quantify serum opioid levels in 50 poisoned patients. Findings identified methadone as the primary causative agent (72%), with significant concentration variances observed across gender and residency. The analytical data from GC-MS proved critical for confirming clinical diagnoses and assessing poisoning severity.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to quantify ondansetron concentrations in dogs following intravenous and subcutaneous administration. Analytical results revealed 84.6% bioavailability and peak plasma concentrations of 84.6 ng/mL. The high sensitivity of LC-MS/MS enabled precise non-compartmental modeling to establish therapeutic dosing intervals for clinical use.

To detect pesticide residue presence in grapes, researchers developed a high-throughput workflow utilizing low-pressure gas chromatography (GC) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQMS). This dual-platform approach enabled the detection of 236 pesticides, identifying 23 residues in grape samples and highlighting significant health risks from parathion-methyl through validated, high-precision quantification.

Korean researchers utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to quantify serum metabolites in asthma patients. By leveraging the high-resolution separation of LC combined with the sensitive detection of MS/MS, researchers can identify specific metabolic signatures, providing critical insights into the biochemical pathways and potential biomarkers associated with asthma progression.

Researchers utilized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and electronic tongue analysis to track protein degradation and taste compound evolution during roasting. The study identified six key differentiated metabolites (VIP > 1, P < 0.05), highlighting alanine and 5'-IMP as primary contributors to the significant umami and richness profiles developed during the final processing stages.

Researchers utilized headspace-solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS/MS) to analyze 154 volatile organic compounds across 16 tomato varieties. By identifying 26 key aroma compounds through relative odor activity value (rOAV) analysis, researchers highlighted aldehydes as the primary VOC group. Furthermore, the integration of GC-MS/MS data with electronic nose technology and LightGBM machine learning demonstrates a sophisticated analytical framework for accurately discriminating tomato fruit color and flavor profiles.

Using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–HRMS/MS), researchers at Wageningen Food Safety Research, part of Wageningen University & Research (The Netherlands) identified methyl 2-(sulfo-oxy)benzoate as a novel biomarker that differentiates pharmaceutical from plant-derived salicylic acid in eggs. LCGC International spoke to Serena Rizzo, corresponding author of the paper resulting from this work, about the group’s findings.

Research reveals critical challenges in transferring analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods to preparative fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) systems for therapeutic peptide purification. Scientists developed correction equations using impurity libraries to address parameter transferability issues, enabling more reliable scale-up from analytical testing to production-scale purification of peptide drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide.

Using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), researchers separated tarantula venom into eleven fractions, revealing neuroactive compounds that mimic FDA-approved drugs. RP-HPLC-isolated fractions demonstrated donepezil-like, diazepam-like, and lidocaine-like neurobehavioral effects in zebrafish, highlighting spider venom's potential for neurological disorder therapeutics through chromatographic purification.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of blubber and skin samples from bottlenose dolphins in the Saint Peter Saint Paul archipelago revealed diverse organohalogen compounds including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and naturally produced methoxylated organobromines (MeO-BDEs), demonstrating long-range pollutant transport and establishing these marine mammals as effective sentinels for oceanic contamination monitoring.