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The EPA has updated methods 8270 (8270E) and 625 (625.1) to both now permit the use of solid phase extraction (SPE) to analyze for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in aqueous samples and TCLP leachates. As a result of new advancements in instrumental sensitivity, smaller sample sizes can now be utilized to obtain required method detection limits, reducing solvent and standard consumptions and overall sample preparation time. This application note describes a reliable, efficient, and cost-effective SPE method utilizing two stacked cartridges for the extraction of 100 mL water samples or less.

Cloud-point extraction (CPE) manipulates temperature and surfactant concentration to move aqueous solutes into a micelle phase for separation. Although CPE has been around for some time, it is still considered an emerging technique. Much of the development, and most applications, of CPE have dealt with extraction and preconcentration of inorganic solutes. More recently, attention has turned to the use of CPE in the isolation of organic solutes. This month, we review how CPE works and focus on applications for extracting organics.

There has been much written about the use of nitrogen as a carrier gas for capillary GC. Formerly, to say it wasn’t any good. Latterly to say that it’s pretty good and a better alternative to Helium than hydrogen from a practicality standpoint.

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In his final “Column Watch” article, Ron Majors looks into his crystal ball and discusses future needs in the area of HPLC/UHPLC column technology and related instrumentation. He looks at where current technology may be heading and makes a prediction that monolith-based columns may still have a rightful place in the HPLC/UHPLC laboratory .This article concludes his duration as a monthly columnist for LCGC.

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Professor David S. Hage was awarded the Outstanding Achievements in Separation Science Award at this year’s Eastern Analytical Symposium and Exposition (EAS). The award honours analytical chemists who have distinguished career achievements and advanced their fields of study with superior work by developing theory, technique or instrumentation.

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Professor Chris Enke won the Outstanding Achievements in the Fields of Analytical Chemistry Award at The Eastern Analytical Symposium and Exposition (EAS) this year. The award honours analytical chemists who have distinguished career achievements and advanced their fields of study with superior work by developing theory, technique or instrumentation.

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The 2015 American Microchemical Society Benedetti Pichler Award has been presented to Apryll Stalcup, Director of the Irish Separation Science Cluster and Professor of Chemical Sciences at Dublin City University, Ireland.

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In his final “Column Watch” instalment, Ron Majors looks into his crystal ball and discusses future needs in the areas of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) column technology and related instrumentation.

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Gel filtration chromatography (GFC) is the most widely used method for quantitating protein aggregates in therapeutic drugs. It is a simple method, but prone to error as a result of poor method development and column selection. GFC columns tend to non-specifically adsorb large proteins and aggregates resulting in poor quantitation of “true” aggregate amount. Sample “priming” and mobile phase optimization can help reduce such irregularities. Simple method development rules using new column technologies are presented that demonstrate improved accuracy for these methods.

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In an era where “more data in less time” is expected, bioanalytical scientists have had to become more resourceful. Consequently, bioanalytical laboratories are adopting and extending the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and, in particular, time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry (TOF-HRMS). One of the key benefits of TOF-HRMS is consistent resolution, sensitivity, and mass accuracy - even at high scan speeds with large molecules being analyzed.

It is with great sadness we announce the death of Professor Michel Dreux. Professor Dreux was a professor at the University of Orléans, France.