This past week’s features on ChromatographyOnline.com covered a wide range of topics, from the future of the profession to practical method development. In “Peaks & Pioneers,” Amandaa Brewer warned that as experienced practitioners retire, a shortage of large-molecule chromatography experts could leave the next generation without a grounding in the fundamentals. Christopher Chouinard of Clemson University spoke with LCGC International about how derivatization changes the mass of 11-oxosteroids to sharpen their separation by liquid chromatography-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (LC-IM-MS). A new mini-review explored affinity chromatography for biopharmaceutical analysis, covering its history and principles and how immobilized binding agents such as antibodies, antigens, and immunoglobulin-binding proteins can be used for direct and indirect analysis, sample pretreatment, and characterization. Looking ahead, an “AI/ML Now” feature previewed ChromSoc’s 2027 Data Analytics and AI in Chromatography symposium, which will feature pharmaceutical case studies and a debate over whether AI could ever replace chromatographers. Meanwhile, “Perspectives in HPLC” editor Michael Dong put five long-held HPLC rules to the test, including mobile phase filtration, routine buffer use, avoiding a pH near an analyte’s pK_a, defaulting to 4.6-mm columns, and relying on AI for early method development, and used experimental evidence to show that each depends on the situation rather than being universally true in modern small-molecule drug testing.

The Industry Roundup highlighted several developments in sample preparation and data analysis. Quantera Analytical’s Terry Bates discussed parallel headspace extraction for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and direct analysis in real time–mass spectrometry (DART–MS). Hungarian company LiliChro marked its fifth anniversary by arguing that centrifugal partition chromatography, a liquid–liquid separation technique, belongs in the analytical lab as well as in production. Markes International introduced a vacuum-assisted version of its HiSorb extraction that broadens the range of compounds it can capture for gas chromatography. Finally, mzmine’s new mzassist tool uses a model context protocol layer to let AI run mass spectrometry workflows while keeping data stored locally.

This is the Best of the Week.

Peaks & Pioneers: Amandaa Brewer on Chromatography’s Coming Expertise Gap

Amandaa Brewer warns a shortage of large-molecule chromatography experts, as practitioners retire, could leave the next generation without the fundamentals.¹

Derivatization Enhances LC-IM-MS of 11-Oxosteroids

Christopher Chouinard of Clemson University discusses with LCGC International how derivatization reshapes steroid mass for sharper liquid chromatography-ion mobility-mass spectrometry (LC-IM-MS) separations.²

Affinity Chromatography for Biopharmaceutical Analysis: A Mini-Review of History, Principles, and Potential Applications

This review explores affinity chromatography, which uses immobilized binding agents such as antibodies, antigens, or immunoglobulin-binding proteins to selectively capture biopharmaceuticals, covering history, principles, and applications in direct and indirect analysis, sample pretreatment, and characterization.³

AI/ML Now: Data Analytics and AI in Chromatography 2027 — A ChromSoc Symposium

At, ChromSoc’s Data Analytics and AI in Chromatography symposium, Tony Edge will debate whether AI could ever replace chromatographers, alongside pharma case studies.⁴

Debunking Myths and Half-Truths in HPLC and Pharmaceutical Analysis

"Perspectives in HPLC" editor Michael Dong examines five long-held HPLC "rules" (mobile phase filtration, routine buffer use, avoiding pH near an analyte's pKa, defaulting to 4.6-mm columns, and relying on AI for early method development), showing with experimental evidence that each is conditional rather than universally true in modern small-molecule drug testing.⁵

INDUSTRY ROUNDUP

Rethinking Headspace SPME: Parallel Extraction for MS Workflows

Quantera Analytical’s Terry Bates discusses parallel headspace extraction for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and direct analysis in real time–mass spectrometry (DART–MS) analysis.⁶

LiliChro Celebrates Five Years

Five years after its founding, the Hungarian developer of centrifugal partition chromatography is making the case that liquid–liquid separation belongs on the analytical bench as well as the production floor.⁷

Vacuum Gives Markes International’s HiSorb Extraction a New Dimension

Markes International’s vacuum-assisted HiSorb extends analyte coverage for gas chromatography.⁸

mzmine's mzassist Brings AI to Mass Spectrometry Workflows

The model context protocol (MCP) layer lets AI run mzmine mass spectrometry workflows; data stays local.⁹

References

1. Brewer, A. K.; Jones, K. Peaks & Pioneers: Amandaa Brewer on Chromatography’s Coming Expertise Gap. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/peaks-pioneers-amandaa-brewer-on-chromatography-s-coming-expertise-gap(accessed 2026-10-30)
2. Chouinard, C.; Chasse, J. Derivatization Enhances LC-IM-MS of 11-Oxosteroids. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/derivatization-enhances-lc-im-ms-11-oxosteroids(accessed 2026-10-30)
3. Hage, D.; Heenkenda, S.; Olupathage, H. et al. Affinity Chromatography for Biopharmaceutical Analysis: A Mini-Review of History, Principles, and Potential Applications. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/affinity-chromatography-for-biopharmaceutical-analysis-mini-review-history-principles-potential-applications (accessed 2026-10-30)
4. Edge, T.; Matheson, A. AI/ML Now: Data Analytics and AI in Chromatography 2027 — A ChromSoc Symposium. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/ai-ml-now-data-analytics-and-ai-in-chromatography-2027-a-chromsoc-symposium (accessed 2026-10-30)
5. Dong, M. Debunking Myths and Half-Truths in HPLC and Pharmaceutical Analysis. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/ai-ml-now-data-analytics-and-ai-in-chromatography-2027-a-chromsoc-symposium(accessed 2026-10-30)
6. Chasse, J. Industry Roundup: Rethinking Headspace SPME: Parallel Extraction for MS Workflows. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/industry-roundup-rethinking-headspace-spme-parallel-extraction-for-ms-workflows(accessed 2026-10-30)
7. Chasse, J. Industry Roundup: LiliChro Celebrates Five Years. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/industry-roundup-lilichro-celebrates-five-years(accessed 2026-10-30)
8. Chasse, J. Industry Roundup: Vacuum Gives Markes International’s HiSorb Extraction a New Dimension. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/industry-roundup-vacuum-gives-markes-international-s-hisorb-extraction-new-dimension (accessed 2026-10-30)
9. Chasse, J. Industry Roundup: mzmine's mzassist Brings AI to Mass Spectrometry Workflows. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/industry-roundup-mzmine-s-mzassist-brings-ai-mass-spectrometry-workflows (accessed 2026-10-30)