Kevin A. Schug

In this LCGC Blog, Kevin Schug shares his plans for the future as a Fulbright–Palacky University Distinguished Scholar in the Czech Republic, and discusses why it is important to share analytical chemistry with communities around the world.

Vacuum-assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction (Vac-HS-SPME) is quickly becoming popular for enhancing the extraction of semi-volatile compounds.

Untargeted analysis using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) chemical profiling is a valuable tool, but care needs to be taken with experimental design.

The level of uncertainty provided by most forensic laboratories for reported blood alcohol results has been woefully underassessed. Not only is this bad science, but someone’s civil liberties may be at stake.

Forensic laboratories need to revise their procedures for uncertainty assessment in blood alcohol determinations. We explain why.

The level of uncertainty provided by most forensic laboratories for reported blood alcohol results has been woefully underassessed. Not only is this bad science, but someone’s civil liberties may be at stake.

This instalment of the LCGC Blog investigates fundamental relationships between the structures of molecules and their interaction with different materials, in the context of online supercritical fluid extraction–supercritical fluid chromatography (SFE–SFC).

We analytical chemists have a lot to gain by applying machine learning to our field—such as by using it to efficiently reach optimal conditions for challenging separations.

The lack of proper method validation has important implications in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) determinations. We examine this issue, addressing the importance of gas chromatography (GC) for BAC determination, why certain validation procedures are important, and why accreditation bodies need to step up their game.

We are investigating fundamental relationships between the structures of molecules and their interaction with different materials, in the context of on-line supercritical fluid extraction–supercritical fluid chromatography (SFE–SFC).

Reviewing your contract laboratory’s QA/QC protocols can reveal much about the accuracy of the data the lab generates. Here is what to look for.

How can you know for sure if the analytical laboratory producing your results is processing reliable data?

If your decision making relies on analytical chemistry, then you want to be confident that the measurements are an accurate representation of the matrix that is being analyzed, and that they are of “publication” quality. But how can you know for sure if the analytical laboratory that you’ve selected is producing reliable data?

Method validation processes will need to be refined to better suit forensic laboratories.

How can we monitor the source and environmental impact of neglected oil and gas acquisition sites, and assess their impact over time?

The deficiency in method validation for forensics laboratories regularly manifests itself in two steps.

How can we monitor the source and environmental impact of neglected oil and gas acquisition sites, and assess their impact over time?

Recycling plastics involves catalytically cracking polymers back into their constituent monomer mixtures, which require careful characterization for further processing. There is a resurging need for detectors that can detect and characterize heteroatom-containing species.

Kevin A. Schug suggests that now is the time to fast-track industry–academic partnerships for greater sustainability.

In April 2020, on the heels of the pandemic shutdown, the price of crude oil fell to a negative value for the first time ever. The shutdown hit many oil and gas companies hard. But while companies lick their wounds and decide their next moves, an important concept called environmental and social corporate governance (ESG) has come greater into focus.

Kevin Schug takes a break from his popular blog and reveals an exciting new collaboration between LCGC and the American Chemical Society Analytical Division, Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry, to keep readers abreast of the latest trends and developments in separation science with a new series of blogs from members of this group.

After a few months of the coronavirus shutdown, the author has found some effective approaches to teaching and holding research meetings remotely.

My initial inclination was to write about something other than the current status of life, given the threats of coronavirus. However, after a month extension to the shelter-in-place was ordered by the U.S. government this past weekend, and after various e-discussions with friends and colleagues throughout the world who are experiencing similar challenges, I felt I might have something to offer to make life easier.

When working with complex samples, we need effective approaches to deal with matrix interferences. Here, we outline methods of sample preparation, on-line sample treatment, and instrument tools that can help. We also provide examples of applications and guidance for how to evaluate the best option for your complex sample.

My initial inclination was to write about something other than the current status of life, given the threats of coronavirus. However, after a month extension to the shelter-in-place was ordered by the U.S. government this past weekend, and after various e-discussions with friends and colleagues throughout the world who are experiencing similar challenges, I felt I might have something to offer to make life easier.

In this instalment of the LCGC Blog, Kevin Schug asks if the exposome can be overcome.

It was a pretty significant fight to get our most recent paper into the scientific literature. But, after five reviewers opining and four submitted revisions later, we were able to publish a very unique piece of work characterizing anecdotal claims of groundwater contamination in shale energy basins across the United States.

At the 43rd International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography (ISCC 2019) in Fort Worth, Texas, a panel addressed the current challenges and potential future directions in capillary liquid chromatography. How can their vision be achieved?

A top-down approach to quantifying intact proteins from biological fluids using liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) offers the potential for more absolute quantitation than bottom-up approaches. To make this broadly viable, however, commercial sample preparation tools are needed.

The “State-of-the-Art in Capillary Liquid Chromatography” panel discussion at the 43rd International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography (ISCC 2019) in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, was a thoughtful dialogue on current challenges and potential future directions in the field. The session included a general overview of the current state of the field, key drawbacks preventing widespread use of capillary liquid chromatography (LC) columns, and how these challenges might be overcome. In this article, we highlight some of the common themes that were discussed as part of this panel.