The Column-02-08-2016

Gel permeation/size-exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC) is the standard method for separating samples by molecular size and determining molar mass distributions. However, GPC/SEC instruments can also be used to investigate porous materials and to learn more about pore size distributions, as a powerful alternative to nitrogen gas (N2) adsorption or mercury (Hg) intrusion porosimetry.

Contaminants in surface water and drinking water supplies arising from pharmaceutical and personal care product use as well as other compound sources pose a difficult challenge for analytical chemists. Thomas Letzel from the Technical University of Munich in Germany, spoke to The Column to discuss collaborative research taking place in Europe to address contaminants of emerging concern in water analysis.

Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Aberdeen have identified disease markers for Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as “sleeping sickness”. Using reversed-phase ultrahigh‑performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy researchers found 53 discriminatory metabolite markers.

Sciex (Framingham, Massachusetts, USA) has announced a co‑marketing agreement with Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (South Easton, MA, USA), which aims to address the challenges arising in complex sample preparation.

Crawford Scientific (Strathaven, UK) has announced that it will become YMC Europe’s (Dinslaken, Germany) sole authorized distributor within the UK.

A glimpse of what’s on offer for chromatographers at Pittcon 2016, which will be held from 6–10 March 2016 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

The key variables and instrument setup requirements needed to achieve success in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).

Click the title above to open The Column February 08, 2016 Europe & Asia issue, Volume 12, Number 2, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open The Column February 08, 2016 North American issue, Volume 12, Number 2, in an interactive PDF format.

A team of researchers based in France has examined the consequences of microwave and electron-beam treatments on food and its packaging using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC)