The Column-07-24-2014

Researchers from the University of Western Australia's Centre for Forensic Science have collaborated with the University of Turin's Department of Chemistry in Italy to develop a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method to analyze levels of methamphetamine (MA) in blowflies (Calliphora vomitoria L.).

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

The combination of a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) with mass spectrometry (MS) to analyze evolved gases is a well-known technique. However, it does not allow differentiation between gases that evolve simultaneously; TG combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TG–GC–MS) can allow for a more complete characterization. This article explains more

The 5th International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry (5th ICGC) will be held in Durban, South Africa, from 17–21 August 2014.

Incognito advises on the benefits of outsourcing in the analytical laboratory. What could an external partnership mean for your laboratory?

Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis has been performed on urine and cord blood samples from expectant mothers to explore the exposure to the antimicrobial agents triclosan (TCS) and tricarban (TCC). The agents have received increasing attention over recent years, with concerns being raised over lack of efficacy and potential toxicity to the environment, as well as human health.

In the first of a two-part Q&A The Column spoke to Paul A. Sutton, a research fellow in the Petroleum and Environmental Geochemistry Group (PEGG) at Plymouth University (Plymouth, UK), about the analysis of crude oil and how high temperature gas chromatography can be used to save millions of dollars for the oil industry.

This article looks at the role of specialty gases in the monitoring, detection, and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in industrial emissions.

Great advances have been made in the field of miniaturization of mass spectrometers, opening up the potential to save time by performing analysis in the field; however, sample preparation has yet to catch up. A new study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry demonstrates the application of microfluidics integrated with a miniature mass spectrometer for the detection of illicit drugs in dried urine samples, which can simultaneously analyze four samples in under 15 min.

Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated the application of PLOT-cryoadsorption (PLOT–cryo) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the analysis of ignitable liquid (IL) residues in fire debris.

Click the title above to open The Column July 24, 2014 North American issue, Volume 10, Number 13, in an interactive PDF format.

Click the title above to open The Column July 24, 2014 Europe & Asia issue, Volume 10, Number 13, in an interactive PDF format.