Best of the Week: Chromatography Methods, HPLC 2026 Previews, and More

This week, LCGC International covered the latest advances and applications across separation science: Hans-Gerd Janssen reflects on the progress and ongoing challenges in hyphenated chromatography for food analysis; HPLC 2026 previews include Bo Zhang's work on rationally engineering chromatographic materials by controlling particle and pore architecture, plus a session on how AI and machine learning are transforming LC–MS, method development, and peak integration. On the research side, GC-MS/MS links first-trimester phthalate exposure to impaired fetal growth, HPLC finds no dopamine difference between two Parkinson's therapies, DART-MS advances forensic screening of nitazene analogs, and GC-MS with NMR tracks heat-induced fatty acid changes in cooking oils; and Katelynn Perrault's LCGC Blog makes the case for training analytical chemists in chemometrics through hands-on, real-data learning.

This is the Best of the Week.

Hyphenated Chromatography Methods: Successes and Remaining Challenges

Hans-Gerd Janssen highlights the important innovations and challenges remaining using hyphenated separation science techniques in food analysis.¹

HPLC 2026 Preview: Bo Zhang on Moving Towards Precision Design and Manufacture of Chromatographic Materials

Bo Zhang from Xiamen University, Xiamen, China discusses his upcoming lecture at HPLC 2026 that reveals a new way to design and manufacture chromatographic materials. This new approach indicates that chromatographic media can be intentionally engineered rather than developed through “trial-and-error” synthesis. By independently controlling particle morphology and pore architecture, separation materials can be rationally designed and optimized for specific applications.²

How AI and Machine Learning Are Reshaping Separations Science at HPLC 2026

This HPLC 2026 session on AI in separations science covers LC–MS, modelling, peak integration and digital method development.³

GC-MS/MS Links Prenatal Phthalates to Fetal Growth

Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) reveals first-trimester phthalate exposure impairs fetal growth, worsened by maternal stress.⁴

HPLC Comparison of Dopamine in Parkinson's Therapy

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measured blood dopamine in Parkinson's patients on LCE or LB, revealing no significant difference.⁵

Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric Screening of Novel Psychoactive Substances in Seized Drug Analysis

Researchers studied oxygenated species formation in nitazene analogs via DART-MS to improve forensic drug screening and address the opioid crisis. LCGC International spoke to Emma Hardwick, lead author of the paper that resulted from this work.⁶

GC-MS and NMR Track Heat-Induced Oil Degradation

Chromatography and spectrometry techniques reveal how high-heat cooking alters fatty acid profiles in three vegetable oils.⁷

LCGC Blog: Who Will Handle the Data? Training Data Wranglers in Analytical Chemistry
In this month's LCGC Blog, Katelynn Perrault describes a new initiative to promote the importance and practice of chemometrics through an active-learning program that provides hands-on experience with chemometric workflows using real analytical datasets.⁸

References

1. Janssen, H.-G.; Matheson, A.Hyphenated Chromatography Methods: Successes and Remaining Challenges. Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/htc-19-update-opening-hyphenation-session(accessed 2026-06-05)

2. Zhang, B.; Matheson, A.HPLC 2026 Preview: Bo Zhang on Moving Towards Precision Design and Manufacture of Chromatographic Materials. Chromatography Online website https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/hplc-2026-preview-bo-zhang-on-moving-towards-precision-design-and-manufacture-of-chromatographic-materials (accessed 2026-06-05)

3. LCGC Staff.How AI and Machine Learning Are Reshaping Separations Science at HPLC 2026.Chromatography Online website https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/how-ai-and-machine-learning-are-reshaping-separations-science-at-hplc-2026 (accessed 2026-06-05)

4. Chasse, J.GC-MS/MS Links Prenatal Phthalates to Fetal Growth. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/the-role-of-im-hrms-outside-proteomics (accessed 2026-06-05)

5. Chasse, J. HPLC Comparison of Dopamine in Parkinson's Therapy. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/advice-for-early-career-scientists-entering-industry (accessed 2026-06-05)

6. Hardwick, E.; Chasse, J. Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric Screening of Novel Psychoactive Substances in Seized Drug Analysis. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/chromatographic-analysis-antimicrobial-residues-legume-based-foods--lc-ms-ms(accessed 2026-06-05)

7. Chasse, J. GC-MS and NMR Track Heat-Induced Oil Degradation. Chromatography Online website https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/gc-ms-detection-pca-root-canals-antioxidant-irrigant-study (accessed 2026-06-05)

8. Perrault-Uptmor, K. A. LCGC Blog: Who Will Handle the Data? Training Data Wranglers in Analytical Chemistry. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/lcgc-blog-who-will-handle-the-data-training-data-wranglers-in-analytical-chemistry (accessed 2026-06-05)