LCGC Europe-06-01-2014

The pyrolysis–GC–MS method enables direct analysis of solid or liquid polymers without sample pretreatment, as illustrated here for various materials, including a dental filling material and a car wrapping foil.

Sample preparation has often been viewed as the bottleneck in analytical procedures. Surveys have shown that time is typically the most frequent problem area for sample preparation procedures. While newly developed extraction techniques address time, modern chromatography advances are also moving towards faster separations. Based on these considerations, what is high-throughput sample preparation? Do modern extraction methods adequately address the issue of time? How can we address the analytical need for speed?

This review provides an updated overview of the theory behind the success of SPP technology, trends, benefits, and limitations. It also summarizes the latest developments of sub-2-?m SPPs and instrumental constraints associated with their use.

Developments in the preparation of organic polymer monoliths suitable for the separation of small molecules in the isocratic mode are described and the main factors affecting column efficiency are identified.

UV detectors are the most common LC detector, and perhaps the most reliable ones. But they are not without problems.

Click the title above to open the LCGC Europe June 2014 regular issue, Vol 27 No 6, in an interactive PDF format.