Solid Phase Extraction and Solid Phase Microextraction at Work

With 88 oral sessions, 54 poster sessions, 101 short courses, 50 symposia, and 9 workshops to choose from, it is impossible to do it all at Pittcon 2006 - that is, unless one of the brilliant scientific minds here has found a way to be in two different places at once.

However, it's hard to go wrong and not find a session that doesn't match your expertise or, at least, peak one's curiosity.

There was ample opportunity to get going early this year as the technical program began on Sunday afternoon for the first time. The conference began with invited symposia, workshops, and organized contributed sessions followed by the opening session, which included the Pittcon Heritage Award Presentation and Plenary Lecture, and a Poster Mixer.

As the booths were being prepared and the crowds started to pour into Orlando on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, William A. Straub presided over an oral session entitled, "Solid Phase Extraction and Solid Phase Microextraction at Work."

Erin E. Chambers, Diane Diehl, and Jeffrey R. Mazzeo kicked things off in the session with a talk on "Cleaner, Simpler, and Faster SPE: Introducing a Novel Sorbent and Protocol Selection Approach." After a brief recess, James F. Bath and Juergen Pankrazt got things rolling again with their presentation on how "High Quality Laboratory Analysis Requires a High Quality Analyzer but Also a High Quality Sample." Closing out the session, from the University of Waterloo, were Heather L. Lord, Janusz Pawliszyn, and Joseph Hutchinson. The trio discussed "Optimization of the SPME Configuration for Automation Using a 96-Well Plate Format." Other topics ranged from "Increasing the Hydrophobicity of Surfactant Immobilized Sorbents" (Justin Simmons and Qing Zhao, Western Kentucky University) to "Rapid Analysis of Anticoagulants from Liver" (William E. Brewer, Clemson University).

If your flight didn't get in until late Sunday evening, fear not — there are still 81 oral sessions, 53 poster sessions, 45 symposia, and 5 workshops left. Hopefully you have mapped out your agenda and got plenty of rest Sunday night - the fun is just beginning at Pittcon 2006.