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A technique to measure total phenolic content (TPC) in vegetable oils through analysis of images captured by a cellphone may prove to be easier to utilize than the traditional methods of ultraviolet/visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography (GC).

A recent paper introduced a compressed fluid-based separation process that combines carbon dioxide and ethanol to isolate portisins previously hemi-synthesized from blueberry surplus anthocyanins. The performance of the two-step separation process was compared favorably to centrifugal partitional chromatography (CPC) and conventional reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) findings that were reported in terms of portisins content in the extract, process throughput, process efficiency, and total solvent used.

Researchers investigated the use of electric field in dried blood spot (DBS) sample preparation for the detection of steroids in newborns using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using both regular electroporation cuvettes and a custom vial setup.

Researchers have utilized ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UH PLC-MS/MS) to monitor 5-Fluorouracil, a medication used to treat various cancers, in dried blood spots. This process offers a simpler, more efficient method than those in place involving the monitoring of plasma.

Dr. Paola Tiedemann of Texas Tech University. Photo Credit: © Paola Tiedemann

In this edition of “Inside the Laboratory,” Paola Tiedemann, PhD, an assistant professor of chemistry at Texas Tech University, discusses her laboratory group’s work using headspace sampling techniques like solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC–MS) to chemically characterize odor volatiles from a range of forensic specimens.