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A recent study examined three drug overdose deaths resulting from an Italian prison riot during the initial wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. To ascertain the nature of these deaths, a comprehensive toxicological analysis was conducted, employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to reveal high concentrations of various substances in the biological fluids of the deceased inmates.

A recent study focused on identifying molecular markers capable of discriminating between different origins and, at the same time, predicting their sensory attributes adopting a sensomics approach. An untargeted method was adopted, based on the coupling of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), followed by the application of chemometric tools for the selection of 71 discriminating molecular markers for six origins.

A recent study determined the insecticidal activity of essential oils (EOs) from leaves of P. aduncum cultivated in southeastern Brazil, collected during the dry and rainy seasons, against fleas. Through this research, researchers hope to promote the utilization of these natural resources, particularly those now in cultivation and available for industry, in ways that align with traditional practices.

A recent study investigated the significance of quantifying amino acids in minute sweat volumes using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence (FL) detection, offering a non-invasive and efficient way to screen for diseases by detecting amino acids in sweat, even with minimal sweat volumes.

Betsy Stone of the University of Iowa. | Image Credit: © Betsy Stone.

In this edition of “Inside the Laboratory,” Betsy Stone, PhD, a professor of chemistry at the University of Iowa, discusses her group’s current research endeavors, including developing a new liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method to track secondary organic aerosol that forms in the atmosphere from D5.

Intricate Network of Multicolored Threads | Image Credit: © David - stock.adobe.com.

The introduction of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) to the sample screening toolbox has substantially increased the ability to comprehensively characterize complex mixtures. However, for many gas chromatography (GC) users, the thought of having to learn to develop methods on a new technology is daunting. Developing a basic GC×GC method for most (nonspecialized) applications can be accomplished in minimal time and effort given parameter suggestions and ranges to target analytes in a sample of interest. In this article, the authors work describe a simple workflow to develop a GC×GC method for a specific sample upon initial use, with the aim of decreasing the time to accomplish functional workflows for new users.

Liverpool Skyline Pier head sunset | Image Credit: © vichie81 - stock.adobe.com

This year, the ISC’s theme is “Imagine a world of Chromatography." Here, we will see conference attendees discuss a wide variety of disciplines where chromatography plays a crucial role.

A puddle of gasoline on the ground. Generated with AI. | Image Credit: © ksu - stock.adobe.com.

Petroleum contamination from leaking underground storage tanks, for example, is a significant concern for both the environment and human health. Thorough characterization of the contamination is required to form appropriate risk assessments and remediation strategies, but until now, the determination of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in soil has typically involved a convoluted and labour-intensive process. In this article, the analysis of TPH in environmental media is simplified using flow-modulated GC×GC–FID with quantitation based on pre-defined compound groupings. This approach overcomes the drawbacks of conventional solvent fractionation approaches, by eliminating the need for sample fractionation and automating data processing workflows.

Steel pipe | Image Credit: © Kybele - stock.adobe.com

Column insertion distance is critical to good chromatography. What happens if the column is installed too low in the injection port? Is insertion distance more important when performing split injection or splitless injection? Does the position of the column in the injection port impact reproducibility?

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have introduced an assay developed and validated to measure steroids in human primary teeth using liquid chromatography-tandem spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).