Each month in our Technology Forum we will feature a discussion between industry experts on various trends and issues in the chromatography field. This month's Technology Forum looks at the topic of Pittcon 2007 and the trends and issues surrounding it. Joining us for this discussion are Tom Ricci with Ricci Communications and LCGC Columnists John Dolan and John Hinshaw.
According to "Column Watch" Editor Ron Majors, Type C silica is a term introduced by Dr. Joseph Pesek of San Jose State University (California).
This article presents the findings from an analysis conducted on sensitivity in GC on the basis of the complex group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and PAH derivatives.
Through the years, Pittcon has provided a platform for leading researchers to present new breakthroughs in their scientific endeavors.
Beginning in February, Steve Brown, LCGC technical editor of 18 years, will answer your technical questions. Each month, one question will be selected to appear in this space, so we welcome your submissions. Please send all questions to the attention of "Ask the Editor" at lcgcedit@lcgcmag.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
Gas chromatography (GC) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) offers unique solutions for various analytical applications including the analysis of food quality, authenticity and safety markers. This article provides a general overview of TOF-MS basic features, highlighting its advantages and limitations compared with GC using conventional mass analysers. Examples of recent results obtained for selected food contaminants and flavour components are described to illustrate the potential of this recently introduced technique.
Capillary extraction (CEx) is used to study the solventless in-tube extraction of naphthalene, acenaphthene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene and coronene in aqueous samples prepared by analyte spiking into clean waters or, as an alternative, by using the generator–column method of sample preparation. Analysis of laden extractors is conveniently performed by high-resolution gas chromatography (GC), with a flame-ionization detector (FID). Extraction set-ups and main extraction variables are investigated from a practical point of view. For 2- to 4-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), equilibrium times are within a few minutes, analytical sensitivity is in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range and reproducibility is better than 10% relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 6). Coronene behaviour is unique and presumably determined by extreme hydrophobicity and thus very negligible aqueous solubility: in-tube extraction of coronene seems possible only if starting from..
The environmental market peaked about fifteen years ago when the United States government passed a large body of new environmental laws and strengthened existing ones, dramatically increasing the number of mandated tests. As a result, the analytical instruments market received a boost in new instrument sales. While growth from the environmental market has slowed considerably since, the total market is still quite significant.
You have purchased a new gas chromatograph. Your company's safety office has completed a review of your lab's supplies. Before setting up your gas chromatograph, you read the instructions and familiarize yourself with the instrument. You might even give some thought to the exposure risks for the various substances in your samples. Yet, what about the less visible risks inherent in the gas delivery system that makes this a gas chromatograph?
The analysis of peptides and additives using a new HPLC innovative column technology, Pathfinder, was shown. For the analysis of flavours in lemon juice GC–MS with a new MS library, FFNSC, with linear retention indices was used.
Soft drink formulas often include preservatives, artificial sweeteners, flavours or caffeine in their list of ingredients. Using the Acclaim OA column, as many as eight common additives may be determined in a single run. Many of these additives are hydrophilic organic acids for which this column was designed. Notably, benzoate and sorbate, which do not resolve on C18 columns at low pH, are fully separated.
Column lifetime is a more and more important issue when developing an analytical method for HPLC. Besides sample treatment, column cleaning and storage, operational parameters of the analytical method will have an influence on column lifetime. This question may not always be addressed early enough in the methods development process.
The accuracy and precision of results in gas chromatography and other analytical techniques are highly dependent upon the sample and its preparation, the instrumentation, accessories and operating conditions, as well as on operator skill and experience. For these reasons, accuracy and precision for a specific methodology can be expected to vary from one laboratory or operator to another. This month, we look at statistical analysis as a diagnostic tool.
In a good laboratory practice (GLP) environment, data-handling software cannot be used until it is validated. This even applies to the most simple program that performs calculations or stores data. A detailed documentation of the set-up and the performance of the software - called software validation - is required. The development and validation requirements are described in this article and illustrated with a software for robustness testing (SRT), which guides the user step-by-step through the experimental set-up and interpretation of robustness tests. This software was developed in an Excel (Windows XP) environment and is used as part of method validation in laboratories that require compliance with GLP and 21 CFR Part 11. The software was subjected to software validation regulations and is compliant with electronic records and signature rules (21 CFR Part 11) as it creates, delivers and stores electronic data. The validation tests are based on the computerized system validation (CSV) -..
This article assesses the advantages of including certified reference materials in collaborative method validation studies in food analysis. A recently conducted collaborative trial on the determination of acrylamide in bakery and potato products is described to illustrate this.
Since the first Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy was held in 1950, Pittcon, as it is called today, has become a key meeting place where renowned scientists present their pioneering research and developers showcase the latest instruments that make many of those research scientific breakthroughs possible. This two-part article series will present a historical perspective on just a few of the significant scientific advancements that were discussed and demonstrated at Pittcon over the years. Part I will focus on new instruments and techniques that were presented at Pittcon from 1950 to 1980, and Part II will discuss a few of the many notable scientists and their discoveries that have been enabled by advances in mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, and other instrumental techniques since 1980.
November 2006. This month, John Hinshaw addresses questions of instrument capabilities and chromatographers' expectations. In subsequent issues, he will discuss adjustment of hardware settings, optimization of column parameters, and data-handling issues. This is the first article in the recently released "GC Connections Resource Guide."
The laboratory life science and analytical instrument industry is comprised of a large, diverse group of organizations that manufacture and distribute their products worldwide. However, overall industry sales are concentrated among a small set of companies. Approximately 950 firms are included in the industry, but only about 100 companies have sales above $50 million.
October 2006. This brief review introduces the GCxGC technique and its advantages, hich primarily lie in the area of ncreased separation power for volatile chemical analysis.
Most modern GC autosamplers employ high-speed actions by default.
September 2006. The accuracy and precision of results in gas chromatography and other analytical techniques are highly dependent upon the sample and its preparation, the instrumentation, accessories, and operating conditions, as well as on operator skill and experience. For these reasons, accuracy and precision for a specific methodology can be expected to vary from one laboratory or operator to another. This month, we look at statistical analysis as a diagnostic tool.
