Columns | The LCGC Blog

In this issue – I hope to outline some 'small bolts' that are commonly ignored in everyday chromatography and mass spectrometry - instrument settings that I have to come call 'lock and leave' parameters. We can generate data without changing them or paying them any attention, but how much better could our data be if we bothered to optimise them.

A program was formulated to help educate public opinion leaders on the fundamentals of unconventional natural gas and oil extraction, to convey the current state of research on the topic, and to disseminate and discuss prospective regulations that have been formulated over the past two to three years.

A recent increase in research on the impact of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction is welcomed by Kevin Schug. He explains more in this latest LCGC Blog instalment.

Much has been written about options for increasing efficiency in HPLC ? primarily through the use of core shell and sub 2 ?m particles, which have been used to increase efficiency, speed up separations or increase peak capacity. However, many separations can only be effectively improved, by optimising selectivity ? resolution is a function of selectivity, efficiency and retention, with selectivity being the most effective at achieving good resolution.

I will preface this blog installment by saying that I am not an expert on separation of proteins, but I am learning. What I do understand are the fundamentals of chromatography for small molecules. This information abounds, but it is much more difficult to find the same level of information for biomacromolecule chromatography.

Why would one want to use a mobile phase containing 100% water? Usually to wash the analyte or old mobile phase from the column (stationary phase surface) or to help retain analytes which elute quickly using mobile phases containing only very small amounts of organic solvent (usually highly polar analytes).

Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) extraction, which includes processes such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has created major positive geopolitical and economic advantages for the United States.

Most of us who have used UV detection for HPLC analyses consider them very straightforward and find they produce fit for purpose data whenever we need them to.

Gas Chromatography with Vacuum Ultraviolet Absorption Detection

LCGC Blogger Tony Taylor provides his impartial guide to liner selection that is representative of the considerations in modern capillary gas chromatography (GC).

When a scientist needs to search through scientific literature, which is the preferred search engine? While there is quite a bit of variety in available search engines, LCGC Blogger Kevin Schug has a definite preference. Here's what it is, and why.

When you begin to now combine advances in superficially porous media to achieve high efficiency with novel and predictable new stationary phases to achieve high selectivity, then it sounds like the evolution of HPLC and UHPLC phases over the past decade or more has brought some exciting new possibilities.

Is 0.1% TFA (aq) / 0.1% TFA in acetonitrile the ultimate robust HPLC mobile phase? Maybe not...

Much has been written about column overload, however, I've seen many instances lately in which overload may not be instantly recognized, or causes problems that may not normally be attributed to overload. Therefore, I wanted to explain how to spot and deal with different types of overload situations.

If you ask scientists, it does not take long before you realize that there is quite a bit of variety in the different search engines that they prefer.

The International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography (ISCC) and GCxGC Symposium combined conference provides an excellent combination of high impact, cutting edge science, and a great social program in an interesting venue. Kevin Schug shares his thoughts about innovations in gas chromatography presented at this year's conference in Riva del Garda, Italy.

When developing a separation, some fundamental choices need to be made on how we might achieve the separation we require - primarily the mode of chromatography used and the way in which we intend to control and optimise the retention and separation (selectivity) of analyte components.

Many troubleshooting investigations in chromatography often don?t lead to a single causal factor. Often, the reason for problems or lack of method robustness are related to many small ?contributory factors? and this is particularly true of the problems associated with sample introduction in capillary Gas Chromatography.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is a versatile and reliable technique that is often used for sample cleanup and concentration. Kevin Schug offers some insight about SPE basics and achieving successful extractions.

This blog attempts to provide an impartial guide to liner selection which is representative of the considerations in modern capillary GC.

Graduate students seeking doctoral degrees in chemistry require guidance and help in completing their dissertations. In the April installment of The LCGC Blog, Kevin Schug discusses this process and the efforts of four of his students.

Of late we have been running a series called 'Lock and Leave', which serves as a reminder to pay attention to those instrument parameters which are often overlooked - you know the type of thing ? 'that's the best value for this system?, 'we always set to that value' and 'I have no idea what that does' ? it's always at that value'.

The United States woefully underfunds international collaborations with the Czech Republic. Yet, it is a country that produces excellent scientists who are distinctly passionate about science, and who have been educated to demonstrate not only a strong mastery of chemistry basics, but also superb knowledge of the integration of high-level mathematics and computer programming skills into their science. One need not look very far in the separation science and mass spectrometry (MS) fields in the United States to find eminent leaders with roots in the Czech Republic.

Surrogates, Internal Standards, Isotopically labelled Standards, External Standards, Calibrants, QC Samples etc. etc. - our working lives are littered with checks to ensure that our instruments are giving us the correct results. And rightly so. But do we always use these checks correctly? Do we know what we are checking and why? Indeed, do we know how to design methods/procedures which employ a valid checking regime, often referred to as a Quality System? Let's find out.

Analytical chemists entering the work force are not always ready to face the challenges of private industry. Kevin Schug discusses how best to prepare students for the next stage of their careers.

An assembly of thoughts on all things filtration for HPLC - and how to deal with various nasties - from Rocks to Sand.

There has been much focus within the industry of late on ways of improving the way in which HPLC method development is carried out - which has led to a more widespread adoption of modelling and optimisation software combined with dedicated method development platforms from the major instrument vendors.

Flow injection analysis (FIA) is a powerful technique for quantitative analysis, especially in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Kevin Schug discusses how FIA can be combined with MS using electrospray ionization and describes how the technique can be used for analytes such as binding constant determination, multipoint instrument response calibrations, and removing the dependence of measured analyze concentrations on matrix effects.

No, this isn't a new detective novel, in fact its two concepts which were "coined" by my good friend John Hinshaw during a recent CHROMacademy webcast which we presented together on sample introduction for capillary GC.

Choosing the correct column for an application really requires that we consider the many factors which can influence the efficiency and selectivity of a separation including column hardware, support and surface chemistry. On a rainy day a little while ago our technical support group came up with a list of 23 such factors which need to be considered.