LCGC TV: Sample Preparation

May 6th 2015

Torsten C. Schmidt from the University Duisberg-Essen in Germany discusses how solvent-free microextraction techniques in gas chromatography have developed since their introduction in the mid-1980s, and the advantages of solvent-free microextraction techniques compared to purge-and-trap enrichment.

August 13th 2014

A single drop of blood represents a complex mixture of biological compounds including phospholipids, proteins, and salts. Frederic Lynen of Ghent University in Belgium discusses the possibilities of a HILIC-based SPE approach to remove phospholipids from blood samples, its applicability to other organic molecules, and how it benefits the chromatographer in practice.

May 21st 2014

Advances in mass spectrometry instrumentation have opened up the field of metabolomics, but there are still issues with non-standardized sampling and sample preparation methods. Tuulia Hyötyläinen from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland discusses the vast range of sample matrices and gives advice on best practices.

May 14th 2014

Anthony Gravell of Natural Resources Wales discusses the principles of passive sampling and the advantages of the technique over spot sampling when screening water samples for environmental contaminants. He also gives an overview of the challenges and considerations that have to be made when performing LC–MS on passive sampling extracts.