Columns | The LCGC Blog

Pop quiz – can you define resolution? Would you be surprised at the number of correct answers? Which one is the best for chromatographers? In this LCGC Blog, we look at the various ways resolution can be interpreted scientifically.

This blog addresses the essential role software has in shaping the present and future of chromatography for the better.

In this LCGC Blog, Tony Taylor performs various experiments with ChatGPT to test how useful the AI technology can be in aiding chromatographers' work.

Manufacturing capillary gas chromatography (GC) columns is a very complex procedure, with many production factors to consider. In this LCGC Blog, Tony Taylor lists some of the vital components of the GC column-making process.

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.

In this LCGC blog, we reflect on the movement to make analytical chemistry more environmentally friendly, and how to potentially better those efforts for the industry's future.

In this LCGC blog, some words of wisdom are offered to help one avoid that panic situation of having to change the GC column or delay the analytical results.

The new General Chapter <621> does reflect the great work of the Pharmacopoeias in helping chromatographers to use more modern technology for their regulated methods, speeding up analysis, and reducing waste. The latest revision allows us to adjust column dimensions for gradient separations, which is a significant advance. Although these freedoms are welcomed, one must be very mindful of the requirements or limits of the allowable changes and the verification work that underpins our demonstration of equivalent performance of the adjusted method.

Undergraduate research and a job or jobs are not the same as an internship. Here's why.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) is becoming increasingly popular, but is still not used as commonly as it could be. That likely means that the technique is still not widely understood. This article is intended to begin demystifying GC×GC by presenting a simple explanation of how it works and its major benefits.

At the heart of most chromatographic analyses are the gravimetric and volumetric operations used to prepare samples, standards, and HPLC mobile phases.

I recently read a nice article from The Robot Report (1) that contrasted the performance of robots in industry against those of humans. The takeaways from the report are as follows.

What’s the fastest way to acquire a new chromatographic skill? The answer lies with those who are just beginning to learn.

It is a fact that most of us will be experiencing rising helium costs, and in some cases, caps on supply, or an inability to initiate new supply contracts from providers. Based on my own experiences, and those of colleagues and contacts, I’ve prepared what I hope is a succinct and focused guide on the factors one needs to evaluate to properly inform the decision to switch, and what to expect on the implementation journey.

Increased diversity in the workplace brings broader perspectives and innovation. Yet many chemical industries, including separation science, lack the diversity that is representative of the population. To fix this problem, we must start at the beginning of the pipeline.

Professor James Ephraim Lovelock, inventor of the electron capture detector and developer of the Gaia theory, died last month on his 103rd Birthday.

We continue our “Critical Evaluation” series with a consideration of liquid chromatography (LC) methods that use mass spectrometric detection.

Earlier this summer, separation scientists from around the world made their way to San Diego for the HPLC 2022 conference. What was it like being back to an in-person liquid chromatography conference?

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).

Separations science within microfluidics has already begun to make significant impact across any number of fields. But many times they are embedded within a larger system—their importance hidden or minimized.

In this next installment of our “Critical Evaluation” series, we will examine gas chromatography methods which use mass spectrometric detection (GC–MS).

Extraction-based sample preparation has been recognized as a significant step in separation science. To improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the extraction, some new approaches have been introduced, including those that employ an electric field. These electric field-assisted extraction methods create another dimension for sample preparation, and are compatible with miniaturized, portable, and multifunctional analytical platforms.

As chromatographers, our thoughts turn to the use of hydrogen as an alternative carrier gas, to ensure continuity of supply and reduce long-term costs.

It is of paramount importance that companies develop their in-house macromolecular separations expertise, not only polymer manufacturing companies but also those employing macromolecules for any of a host of applications, from drug-delivery and tablet coatings to ink-jet printer formulations and food additives, to name but a few.

This time of year tends to serve as a reminder that while women may be entering more degrees and careers in science than ever before, there is still a need to advocate for gender parity in many sectors.

The ability to predict issues and highlight unusual method parameters, before ever entering the laboratory, allows you to be alert for potential issues with a separation, or to change the method (where applicable) prior to initiating any experimentation. These detective skills, when applied in retrospect, are also invaluable for troubleshooting problems with the chromatographic separation or quantitative results.

An undeniable effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is that we have learned how to adapt (quickly) to sudden changes.

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?

In this month’s blog, we provide information about the Subdivision on Chromatography and Separations Chemistry (SCSC) of the Analytical Division of the American Chemical Society (ACS), sharing our main goals and introducing our newly appointed executive board members.

The quadrupole mass analyzing device is now accessible to many analytical chemists as a detector in either HPLC or GC instruments due to their increasingly accessible price point. While it’s not vital that we understand the working principle of these detectors, insight into their design and operation can help enormously when planning or optimizing analyses or troubleshooting issues.