Best of the Week: Gulf Coast Conference Previews, Cocoa Origin Discrimination

This week, LCGC International published a variety of articles on the hottest topics in chromatography. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles, according to our readers. Happy reading!

Gulf Coast Conference 2024: A Preview of the Program

Aaron Acevedo

This year’s Gulf Coast Conference, taking place from October 15–16, 2024 in Galveston, Texas, will feature various presentations on separation science. In this article, the editors of LCGC International have highlighted some upcoming sessions that attendees should add to their schedule. Such sessions include a workshop on microplastics, unlocking multidimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC)’s full potential for petrochemical analyses, and using GC to analyze trace impurities in hydrogen fuel.

Gulf Coast Conference: A Preview of the 2024 Poster Presentations

Aaron Acevedo

During the 2024 Gulf Coast Conference, which will take place October 15–16, 2024 in Galveston, Texas, scientists will present posters displaying their research. Topics include using combustion ion chromatography (CIC) to help screen for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GCxGC–FID) to analyze hydrocarbons in aviation fuel, and conducting high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of additives in soft drinks.

Simultaneous Origin Discrimination and Sensory Prediction of Cocoa with UHPLC-HRMS

John Chasse

Derived from the seeds contained in the pods of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao), cocoa is a raw material of tropical origin. The most commercially important varieties are Forastero (representing around 80% of the cultivated varieties), Criollo (representing just under 5%) and Trinitario (a hybrid between Forastero and Criollo, representing around 15%) (2). In Europe, mono-origin chocolate products are gaining more market because these products are perceived by consumers as more valuable, high quality, and sustainable, characterized by “unique” sensory attributes. In a recent joint study between the University of Parma and the Ferrero Group, scientists identified molecular markers capable of discriminating between different origins of cocoa, and, simultaneously, effectively modeling and predicting specific sensory attributes through a sensomics approach combining data from untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) analysis and sensory data.

Investigating the Benefits of Using Biolubricants Over Petroleum-Based Lubricants: An Interview with Julien Crepier

Will Wetzel

A recent study examined the use of comprehensive off-line liquid chromatography supercritical fluid chromatography (LCxSFC) hyphenated with an Orbitrap analyzer to analyze the complex molecular composition of synthetic biolubricants. These bio-lubricants are partially bio-based and biodegradable alternatives to petroleum oils, containing over 400 molecules with high chemical similarity. The study focused on structural elucidation of a polyol ester synthesized from fatty acids of varying lengths and ricinoleic acid polyesters. Julien Crepier of TotalEnergies was one of the researchers that conducted this study, and he recently sat down with us to talk about his team’s findings.

Identifying Superior Quality in Beef with GC×GC-TOF MS

John Chasse

Cattle hold a vital position among the world's livestock, and China, with its wide array of beef cattle breeds, stands out. A recent study assessed the meat quality of 82 Xinjiang brown cattle (XBC) to identify superior meat quality (high intramuscular fat [IMF] content) within the population. While selective breeding over the past 40 years has substantially increased the XBC population, the selection for superior meat quality and taste has not been a primary concern, although previous studies have found that key factors influencing the quality of beef include meat color, muscle cut, intramuscular fat (IMF) content, and marbling distribution, with the IMF (lipid deposits in skeletal muscle, representing the total triglyceride and phospholipid content at a microscopic level) recognized as an essential factor to beef quality. Two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS) was used to analyze the longissimus dorsi, supraspinatus, and semitendinosus muscles to determine volatile flavor compounds.