Best of the Week: Smarter, Greener, Faster—The Evolution of Analytical Chemistry

This week, ChromatographyOnline.com previewed HTC-19 (May 2026, Leuven), where Drew Szabo will discuss advances in non-targeted screening for environmental analysis, and featured insights from analytica 2026, including Jef Focant’s work on volatolomics for non-invasive diagnostics and Sébastien Rolle’s approach to measuring the full environmental footprint of analytical methods. Additional highlights included André Striegel’s perspective on macromolecular separation science, a new green and high-throughput HS-GC-IMS method for cocoa analysis using hydrogen carrier gas, and LC-HRMS research identifying potential biomarkers for adolescent mental health.

This is the Best of the Week.

HTC-19 Preview: Predicting the Future — Non-Targeted Screening

Drew Szabo from the Centre of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry at the University of York, UK discusses his talk at HTC-19, which will focus on developments in non-targeted screening (NTS) for environmental analysis.¹ HTC-19 will take place from May 26-29, 2026 in Leuven, Belgium.

Matrix Matters: Which Biological Sample Holds the Key to Non-Invasive Diagnostics?

At analytica 2026 in Munich, Germany, LCGC International spoke with Jef Focant from the University of Liège in Belgium, about his presentation, “GC×GC-TOFMS for Medical Volatolomics.” Here, Focant discusses whether workflows transfer between biological matrices, and which holds the most promise for minimally invasive disease monitoring.²

Macromolecular Separation Science—Trends and Developments: An Interview with André Striegel

André Striegel gives an update on the evolution of macromolecular separation science and the rationale behind recently publishing his aptly named reference text book: "Macromolecular Separation Science.” ³

Green and Rapid HS-GC-IMS Using Hydrogen Carrier Gas for Non-Targeted Volatilomic Fingerprinting and Authentication of Cocoa Liquors

Researchers at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Mannheim developed a green, high-throughput HS-GC-IMS method using hydrogen carrier gas to rapidly and efficiently profile VOCs in cocoa liquor while reducing solvent use, preparation time, and energy consumption. LCGC International spoke to Philipp Weller and Lukas Bodenbender, two of the authors of a paper resulting from this study, about their work.⁴

How Do You Measure the True Environmental Footprint of an Analytical Instrument?

At analytica 2026 in Munich, Germany, LCGC International spoke with Sébastien Rolle from Shimadzu Europa GmbH about his presentation, "Make Chromatography Greener: Is Less Solvent the Way Forward?" Here, Rolle outlines how the environmental footprint of analytical instruments and methods can be quantified across the full product life cycle.⁵

LC-HRMS Identifies Potential Mental Health Biomarkers in Adolescents

Researchers used liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to identify blood metabolites linked to teen mental health, offering a potential objective tool for early risk detection and preventive care.⁶

References
1. Zwabo, S. HTC-19 Preview: Predicting the Future — Non-Targeted Screening. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/htc-19-preview-predicting-the-future-non-targeted-screening (accessed 2026-05-01)
2. Focant, J.; Jones, K. Matrix Matters: Which Biological Sample Holds the Key to Non-Invasive Diagnostics? Chromatography Online websitehttps://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/matrix-matters-which-biological-sample-holds-the-key-to-non-invasive-diagnostics-(accessed 2026-05-01)
3. Striegel, A. M.; Matheson, A. Macromolecular Separation Science—Trends and Developments: An Interview with André Striegel. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/macromolecular-separation-science-trends-and-developments-an-interview-with-andr-striegel (accessed 2026-05-01)
4. Weller, P.; Bodenbender, L.; Chasse, J. Green and Rapid HS-GC-IMS Using Hydrogen Carrier Gas for Non-Targeted Volatilomic Fingerprinting and Authentication of Cocoa Liquors. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/green-and-rapid-hs-gc-ims-using-hydrogen-carrier-gas-for-non-targeted-volatilomic-fingerprinting-and-authentication-of-cocoa-liquors (accessed 2026-05-01)
5. Rolle, S.; Jones, K.How Do You Measure the True Environmental Footprint of an Analytical Instrument? Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/green-chromatography-must-analysts-sacrifice-performance-for-sustainability-(accessed 2026-05-01)
6. Chasse, J. LC-HRMS Identifies Potential Mental Health Biomarkers in Adolescents. Chromatography Online website. https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/extech-2026-preview-the-benefits-of-gc-gc-ms-to-resolve-complex-mixtures-from-recycled-packaging-materials- (accessed 2026-05-01)