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To obtain sensitive, robust, and reproducible gas chromatography (GC) methods, each stage of the chromatographic process needs to be carefully considered and optimized. It is also important to record and report as much detail within the method specification so that the method can be reproduced between operators, instruments, and laboratories. Table I represents a "blueprint" method specification with all of the information that is necessary to faithfully specify and reproduce a split–splitless GC method.

This article reports on the physical phenomena that control column efficiency and on experimental protocols designed to accurately measure their contributions to band broadening of analytes during their passage from the injection to the detection device. The results of these protocols are analyzed, allowing for the accurate determination of the complete mass transfer mechanism in different separation modes and providing solutions and future directions to further improve the efficiency of liquid chromatography columns.  

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Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodenerative disorders worldwide. It is a progressive disorder characterized by gradual loss of mental ability associated with the death of brain cells, and is diagnosed using a combination of physical, neurological, and laboratory tests. Although there are no curative treatments available, early treatment can reduce the rate of the disease progression. Scientists from the University of Huelva and the Neurological Service from the Hospital Juan Ramon Jim?nez in Spain, began collaborating four years ago to develop new strategies to identify biomarkers that could be used to speed up diagnosis of the disease. In a new study published in the journal Electrophoresis, the team present a metabolomics approach based on ultrafiltration followed by capillary electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry (CE–ESI–MS) for the fingerprinting of polar metabolites in blood serum.

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The production of new drugs continues to increase, placing pressure on analytical scientists to develop new bioanalytical methods to characterize and ensure quality control and safety. Bethany Degg of The Column spoke to Lucie Novakova of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, about the development, optimization, and challenges of bioanalytical methods as well as future emerging research areas.

Back to Basics

Incognito goes back to basics with standard laboratory skills. How do you use your pipette properly?

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Researchers from CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship in Hobart, Australia, have published a new approach to monitoring plastic exposure in live birds. Featured in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution, the study describes the sampling of preen oil collected from seabirds using a simple swabbing method for gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis.1