Welcome to our Earth Day Celebration!

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To commemorate Earth Day, LCGC International is profiling several chromatographers and their recent work in environmental analysis. We compile the Q&A interviews here for your enjoyment and ease of accessibility.

Welcome to our Earth Day Celebration!

To commemorate the holiday, LCGC International is proud to present 11 new interviews for you to read, with each interview spotlighting how chromatography is positively contributing to environmental analysis.

Begin your journey below. Happy reading!

Q&A #1

Title: Detecting Drugs and Psychoactive Substances in Influent Urban Wastewater: An Interview with Richard Bade

Summary: Wastewater analysis serves as a surveillance tool for various markers, including lifestyle, exposure, population size, and health indicators. Traditional methods focus on predefined analytes, but face challenges with dynamic substances like new psychoactive substances (NPS). Richard Bade and colleagues have recently published a paper outlining the development and application of a new workflow utilizing the open-source platform InSpectra, aiming to complement targeted analysis and identify geographical spatial trends in wastewater samples across multiple countries.

Interviewee: Richard Bade, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) and The University of Queensland (Australia)

Technique Covered: Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS)

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/detecting-drugs-and-psychoactive-substances-in-influent-urban-wastewater-an-interview-with-richard-bade

Q&A #2

Title: A Pyr-GC-Orbitrap-MS Method for Analyzing Microplastics in Air:
An Interview with Silvia Lacorte

Summary: While previous studies have already proposed pyrolysis gas chromatographymass spectrometry (Pyr-GC–MS) methods for microplastic analysis, one of the main constraints with the technique is the lack of standards; method validation procedures to ensure quality control, therefore, cannot be implemented. However, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has been shown to provide accurate mass measurements of the different polymers that can overcome limitations such as lack of sensitivity or selectivity, thus offering the possibility to couple a pyrolytic unit in a GC–Orbital trap-MS and increasing the potential for MP analysis in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, precision, resolution, and mass accuracy. In a recent paper, Silvia Lacorte and colleagues share the results of using this method to simultaneously determine the presence of 10 polymers in air.

Interviewees: Silvia Lacorte, Department of Environmental Chemistry at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (Barcelona, Spain)

Techniques Covered: Pyr-GC–MS and HRMS

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/a-pyr-gc-orbitrap-ms-method-for-analyzing-microplastics-in-air-an-interview-with-ana-torres-agullo-and-silvia-lacorte

Q&A #3

Title: Sustainability and Environmental Awareness in the World of Separation Science

Summary: This interview presents a discussion of the issues associated sustainability and environmental awareness in separation science, particularly as related to HPLC methods.

Interviewee: Dwight R. Stoll, Gustavus Adolphus College

Techniques & Topics Covered: HPLC, LC and 2D-LC, Automation, Chemometrics

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/sustainability-and-environmental-awareness-in-the-world-of-separation-science

Q&A #4

Title: An Integrative Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD), Up-to-date Greenness, and Whiteness Set of Tools for Evaluation of a Sustainable RP-HPLC Method for Regulated Products

Summary: Sustainability efforts and tools are described for establishing an RP-HPLC method for analysis of regulated products. These sustainability tools include Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) methodology; and the application of ChlorTox scale, greenness indicators, and whiteness score metrics.

Interviewee: Hemanth Kumar Chanduluru, SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Techniques & Topics Covered: RP-HPLC, AQbD, ChlorTox, Greenness and Whiteness scales

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/an-integrative-analytical-quality-by-design-aqbd-up-to-date-greenness-and-whiteness-set-of-tools-for-evaluation-of-a-sustainable-rp-hplc-method-for-regulated-products

Q&A #5

Title: An Inside Look at the Analytical Method Greenness Score in High Performance Liquid Chromatography Enantioseparations: An Earth Day Interview with Daniel Armstrong

Summary: Daniel Armstrong, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Texas at Arlington, and his colleagues recently proposed mathematical strategies to minimize analytical method greenness scores (AMGS) in HPLC enantioseparations. We sat down with Armstrong to talk about his team’s research and findings.

Interviewee: Daniel Armstrong, University of Texas at Arlington

Technique Covered: HPLC

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/an-inside-look-at-the-analytical-method-greenness-score-in-high-performance-liquid-chromatography-enantioseparations-an-earth-day-interview-with-daniel-armstrong

Q&A #6

Title: Magnetic Field-Controlled Chromatography for Fractionation of Rare-Earth Containing Phosphors: An Interview with Laura Kuger 

Summary: Laura Kuger of the Institute for Functional Interfaces (IFG) together with Matthias Franzreb are examining the feasibility of using magnetic field-controlled chromatography to fractionate various rare earth-containing phosphors from end-of-life fluorescent lamps, aiming to develop more effective recycling processes for these valuable materials (1). LCGC International sat down with Kuger to discuss her research and the challenges in scaling up magnetic field-controlled chromatography for industrial applications.

Interviewee: Laura Kuger, Institute for Functional Interfaces (IFG)

Technique Covered: Magnetic Field-Controlled Chromatography

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/magnetic-field-controlled-chromatography-for-fractionation-of-rare-earth-containing-phosphors-an-interview-with-laura-kuger

Q&A #7

Title: Thermo Fisher PFAS Expert Discusses Laboratory Testing, Regulatory Partnerships

Summary: Toby Astill, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s expert on PFAS detection, talks with LCGC about the U.S. FDA’s recent decision to ban manufacturers from selling food contact use products containing grease-proofing substances comprised of PFAS. He also addresses how PFAS laboratory testing is done, and what communities can do to better protect themselves from exposure to these “forever chemicals.”

Interviewee: Toby Astill, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Topic Covered: General Expertise in Laboratory Testing

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/thermo-fisher-pfas-expert-discusses-laboratory-testing-regulatory-partnerships

Q&A #8

Title: Chromatography and PFAS Degradation Challenges: An Interview with Katelyn Michael

Summary: Katelyn Michael, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student, recently won the Metrohm Young Chemist Award for her research using electrochemistry to improve degradation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), one of the most prevalent and well-known PFAS. In a Q&A with LCGC, Michael explains how chromatographic techniques such as liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and ion chromatography assist her in sampling.

Interviewee: Katelyn Michael, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Techniques Covered: LC–MS, Ion Chromatography

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/chromatography-pfas-degradation-challenges-interview-katelyn-michael

Q&A #9

Title: Angela Calderón Discusses Importance of Sustainable Analysis Techniques

Summary: In this interview, Angela Isabel Calderón of Auburn University discusses how using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) can prove beneficial when integrated into high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems.

Interviewee: Angela Isabel Calderón, Auburn University

Techniques Covered: LC, HPLC

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/angela-calder-n-discusses-importance-of-sustainable-analysis-techniques

Q&A #10

Title: The Impact of Emerging Markets on Cannabis Testing

Summary: In this roundtable interview, Zac Hildenbrand of Infinity Water Solutions gives an overview of the latest trends and techniques in cannabis analysis.

KOL & Interviewee: Zach Hildenbrand, Infinity Water Solutions

Techniques Covered: GC, LC, LC–MS, HPLC

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/emerging-markets-cannabis-testing

Q&A #11

Title: Analytica 2024: An Interview with Elia Psillakis

Summary: At Analytica 2024 in Munich, Germany, LCGC International sat down with Elia Psillakis of Technical University of Crete to discuss circular analytical chemistry and the importance of sustainable chemistry.

Interviewee: Elia Psillakis of Technical University of Crete

Topic Covered: Circular Analytical Chemistry

Link: https://www.chromatographyonline.com/view/analytica-2024-an-interview-with-elia-psillakis

To continue your exploration of the latest in environmental analysis and sustainability, LCGC International has created two other landing pages for you to explore. Click on one below to continue your Earth Day celebration with us!

LCGC International Celebrates Earth Day – A Look at our Focus on Environmental Analysis Column

LCGC International Celebrates Earth Day – The Latest News in Environmental Analysis

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Toby Astill | Image Credit: © Thermo Fisher Scientific
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