LCGC Author Guidelines

1. Information for Authors

LCGC welcomes manuscripts that describe techniques and applications of all forms of chromatography and capillary electrophoresis and that are of immediate interest to users in industry, academia, and government.

Papers for Current Trends in Mass Spectrometry (CTMS) should focus on advances in mass spectrometry techniques or their application. For CTMS, studies involving separation techniques should focus on the mass spectrometry aspect of the technique or method; papers focusing on the separation step should be submitted for consideration in a regular issue of LCGC.

Manuscripts are reviewed with the understanding that they have not been published previously and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Authors are responsible for all statements made in their work. All manuscripts are subject to peer review and copyediting. Authors of accepted papers will have an opportunity to review galleys. If illustrations or other material in a manuscript have been published previously, the author is responsible for obtaining permission to republish.

Papers accepted for publication in LCGC North America may be considered for publication in LCGC Europe, which is distributed mainly in Europe, and in LCGC Asia Pacific, which is distributed in Asia and Australia.

2. Types of Manuscripts

Technical articles

Technical articles describe improved methods or improvements in techniques and should be of immediate relevance to chromatography users. Authors should not make comparisons between commercially available products from different manufacturers.

Review articles

Review articles survey recent developments and the state of the art of current techniques or emerging technologies. We urge authors to submit a proposal to the editor before completing a manuscript.

3. Manuscript length

Manuscripts for regular issues of LCGC or for CTMS should be ~2500-3500 words long plus up to six figures and tables (combined total).

Manuscripts for special issues or supplements should of the length indicated in the call for papers or invitation.

4. Manuscript Preparation

For papers with multiple authors, designate a single author to handle correspondence. Include this author's e-mail address in the manuscript and in the e-mail message that accompanies the manuscript. Before submitting the completed work, authors are urged to review manuscripts for clarity of expression, details of grammar, and typographical accuracy. Authors for whom English is a second language are encouraged to seek writing help before submitting papers.

Key words or phrases

All manuscripts should include a list of approximately five key words or phrases.

Technical manuscripts should be presented in an abbreviated scientific format and should include the following:

Abstract: Very brief (100–150 words). Mention subjects studied, methods used, principal observations made, and conclusions reached.

Introduction: Without repeating published information, discuss the relationship of your work to previously published work. Describe the novelty or importance of the research presented.

Experimental: Present enough information that an experienced chromatographer would be able to reproduce the work. List those components of the experimental design that are of a specialized nature, including equipment manufacturers names and locations in parentheses after reference to specific types of equipment. Do not list equipment, reagents, or procedures that are normally found in the laboratory or that are common knowledge in the field. Include the following minimal information as it pertains to the particular type of chromatography being used: column dimensions, film thickness, packing type, mobile-phase composition, flow rate, detection method, injection conditions, instrument temperatures, applied potential, and instrument program.

Results and discussion: Focus your comments on the needs of users of chromatography, and stress the practical importance of your findings.

Conclusion: Summarize the main points of your article, and state important conclusions or recommendations.

4. Formatting

Please see the “LCGC and Spectroscopy Formatting Help Guide” below for the details of how to format your manuscript, including figures, tables, and references.

5. Where to Submit Manuscripts

Send manuscripts for LCGC North America or Current Trends in Mass Spectrometry to Caroline Hroncich at chroncich@mjhlifesciences.com and Jerry Workman, Jr. at jworkman@mjhlifesciences.com.

Send manuscripts for LCGC Europe or LCGC Asia Pacific to Alasdair Matheson: amatheson@MJHlifesciences.coms (telephone: +44 153 353 3503).

Send manuscripts for The Column to Kate Jones: kjones@MJHlifesciences.com (telephone: +44 153 353 3621).