Most systems used to detect toxic gases in industrial or domestic settings can be used only once, or at best a few times. Now, researchers at MIT have developed a detector that could provide continuous monitoring for the presence of these gases, at low cost.
The new system combines two existing technologies, bringing them together in a way that preserves the advantages of each while avoiding their limitations. The team used a material called a metal-organic framework, or MOF, which is highly sensitive to tiny traces of gas but whose performance quickly degrades, and combined it with a polymer material that is highly durable and easier to process, but much less sensitive.
The <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202312382">results are reported today</a> in the journal Advanced Materials, in a paper by MIT professors Aristide Gumyusenge, <a href="https://chemistry.mit.edu/profile/mircea-dinca/">Mircea Dinca</a>, <a href="https://chemistry.mit.edu/profile/heather-j-kulik/">Heather Kulik</a>, and Jesus del Alamo, graduate student Heejung Roh, and postdocs Dong-Ha Kim, Yeongsu Cho, and Young-Moo Jo.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/MIT_MIT_News_courtesy_of_the_researchers_Researchers_develop_a_detector_for_continuously_monitoring_toxic_gases_To_create_their_detector_the_team_used_a_material_called_a_metal_organic_4957059d20.jpg" alt="MIT - MIT News; courtesy of the researchers: To create their detector, the team used a material called a metal-organic framework, or MOF (pictured as the black lattice), which is highly sensitive to tiny traces of gas but whose performance quickly degrades. They combined the MOF with a polymer material, shown as the teal translucent strands, that is highly durable but much less sensitive."/>
Highly porous and with large surface areas, MOFs come in a variety of compositions. Some can be insulators, but the ones used for this work are highly electrically conductive. With their sponge-like form, they are effective at capturing molecules of various gases, and the sizes of their pores can be tailored to make them selective for particular kinds of gases. “If you are using them as a sensor, you can recognize if the gas is there if it has an effect on the resistivity of the MOF,” says Gumyusenge, the paper’s senior author and the Merton C. Flemings Career Development Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering.
The drawback for these materials’ use as detectors for gases is that they readily become saturated, and then can no longer detect and quantify new inputs. “That’s not what you want. You want to be able to detect and reuse,” Gumyusenge says. “So, we decided to use a polymer composite to achieve this reversibility.”
The team used a class of conductive polymers that Gumyusenge and his co-workers had <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acssensors.3c01530">previously shown</a> can respond to gases without permanently binding to them. “The polymer, even though it doesn’t have the high surface area that the MOFs do, will at least provide this recognize-and-release type of phenomenon,” he says.
The team combined the polymers in a liquid solution along with the MOF material in powdered form, and deposited the mixture on a substrate, where they dry into a uniform, thin coating. By combining the polymer, with its quick detection capability, and the more sensitive MOFs, in a one-to-one ratio, he says, “suddenly we get a sensor that has both the high sensitivity we get from the MOF and the reversibility that is enabled by the presence of the polymer.”
The material changes its electrical resistance when molecules of the gas are temporarily trapped in the material. These changes in resistance can be continuously monitored by simply attaching an ohmmeter to track the resistance over time. Gumyusenge and his students demonstrated the composite material’s ability to detect nitrogen dioxide, a toxic gas produced by many kinds of combustion, in a small lab-scale device. After 100 cycles of detection, the material was still maintaining its baseline performance within a margin of about 5 to 10 percent, demonstrating its long-term use potential.
In addition, this material has far greater sensitivity than most presently used detectors for nitrogen dioxide, the team reports. This gas is often detected after the use of <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adm8680">stove ovens</a>. And, with this gas recently linked to many asthma cases in the U.S., reliable detection in low concentrations is important. The team demonstrated that this new composite could detect, reversibly, the gas at concentrations as low as 2 parts per million.
While their demonstration was specifically aimed at nitrogen dioxide, Gumyusenge says, “we can definitely tailor the chemistry to target other volatile molecules,” as long as they are small polar analytes, “which tend to be most of the toxic gases.”
Besides being compatible with a simple hand-held detector or a smoke-alarm type of device, one advantage of the material is that the polymer allows it to be deposited as an extremely thin uniform film, unlike regular MOFs, which are generally in an inefficient powder form. Because the films are so thin, there is little material needed and production material costs could be low; the processing methods could be typical of those used for industrial coating processes. “So, maybe the limiting factor will be scaling up the synthesis of the polymers, which we’ve been synthesizing in small amounts,” Gumyusenge says.
“The next steps will be to evaluate these in real-life settings,” he says. For example, the material could be applied as a coating on chimneys or exhaust pipes to continuously monitor gases through readings from an attached resistance monitoring device. In such settings, he says, “we need tests to check if we truly differentiate it from other potential contaminants that we might have overlooked in the lab setting. Let’s put the sensors out in real-world scenarios and see how they do.”
The work was supported by the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC), the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS) at MIT, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Researchers develop a detector for continuously monitoring toxic gases

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New research from the group of MIT Professor <a href="https://chemistry.mit.edu/profile/brett-mcguire/">Brett McGuire</a> has revealed the presence of a previously unknown molecule in space. The team’s open-access paper, “<a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ad37ff">Rotational Spectrum and First Interstellar Detection of 2-Methoxyethanol Using ALMA Observations of NGC 6334I</a>,” appears in April 12 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
<a href="https://chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-news/zachary-fried-wins-lewis-e-snyder-astrochemistry-award/">Zachary T.P. Fried</a>, a <a href="https://chemistry.mit.edu/chemistry-news/graduate-student-spotlight-zachary-fried/">graduate student in the McGuire group</a> and the lead author of the publication, worked to assemble a puzzle comprised of pieces collected from across the globe, extending beyond MIT to France, Florida, Virginia, and Copenhagen, to achieve this exciting discovery.
“Our group tries to understand what molecules are present in regions of space where stars and solar systems will eventually take shape,” explains Fried. “This allows us to piece together how chemistry evolves alongside the process of star and planet formation. We do this by looking at the rotational spectra of molecules, the unique patterns of light they give off as they tumble end-over-end in space. These patterns are fingerprints (barcodes) for molecules. To detect new molecules in space, we first must have an idea of what molecule we want to look for, then we can record its spectrum in the lab here on Earth, and then finally we look for that spectrum in space using telescopes.”
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/MIT_MIT_News_courtesy_of_the_researchers_Researchers_detect_a_new_molecule_in_space_Scientists_detected_2_Methoxyethanol_in_space_for_the_first_time_using_radiotelescope_observations_3e67581c6d.jpg" alt="MIT News/courtesy of the researchers: Scientists detected 2-Methoxyethanol in space for the first time using radiotelescope observations of the star-forming region NGC 6334I."/>
<h4>Searching for molecules in space</h4>
The McGuire Group has recently <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/abe764/meta">begun to utilize machine learning</a> to suggest good target molecules to search for. In 2023, one of these machine learning models suggested the researchers target a molecule known as 2-methoxyethanol.
“There are a number of ‘methoxy’ molecules in space, like dimethyl ether, methoxymethanol, ethyl methyl ether, and methyl formate, but 2-methoxyethanol would be the largest and most complex ever seen,” says Fried. To detect this molecule using radiotelescope observations, the group first needed to measure and analyze its rotational spectrum on Earth. The researchers combined experiments from the University of Lille (Lille, France), the New College of Florida (Sarasota, Florida), and the McGuire lab at MIT to measure this spectrum over a broadband region of frequencies ranging from the microwave to sub-millimeter wave regimes (approximately 8 to 500 gigahertz).
The data gleaned from these measurements permitted a search for the molecule using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations toward two separate star-forming regions: NGC 6334I and IRAS 16293-2422B. Members of the McGuire group analyzed these telescope observations alongside researchers at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (Charlottesville, Virginia) and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
“Ultimately, we observed 25 rotational lines of 2-methoxyethanol that lined up with the molecular signal observed toward NGC 6334I (the barcode matched!), thus resulting in a secure detection of 2-methoxyethanol in this source,” says Fried. “This allowed us to then derive physical parameters of the molecule toward NGC 6334I, such as its abundance and excitation temperature. It also enabled an investigation of the possible chemical formation pathways from known interstellar precursors.”
<h4>Looking forward</h4>
Molecular discoveries like this one help the researchers to better understand the development of molecular complexity in space during the star formation process. 2-methoxyethanol, which contains 13 atoms, is quite large for interstellar standards — as of 2021, <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4365/ac2a48/meta">only six species larger than 13 atoms were detected outside the solar system</a>, many by McGuire’s group, and all of them existing as ringed structures.
“Continued observations of large molecules and subsequent derivations of their abundances allows us to advance our knowledge of how efficiently large molecules can form and by which specific reactions they may be produced,” says Fried. “Additionally, since we detected this molecule in NGC 6334I but not in IRAS 16293-2422B, we were presented with a unique opportunity to look into how the differing physical conditions of these two sources may be affecting the chemistry that can occur.”

Researchers detect a new molecule in space

For 24 years, Karel Šmejkal of the Faculty of Pharmacy has focused on pharmacognosy and phytochemistry. This year he received the MU Rector’s Award for long-term excellence in research in the field of natural sciences and medicine.
<h5>How did you feel when you accepted the award?</h5>
I was happy of course, it’s an important award. But at the same time, I was a bit surprised to find out that I had been recognised for my long-term contribution. It almost felt like I was about to retire! But I hope I haven’t said the last word in my research. I’m definitely not quitting, on the contrary – I have many new challenges ahead of me. There is still room for progress and training in new technologies.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Magazin_M_Radek_Mica_Vyzkum_je_pro_me_porad_vzrusujici_hra_cover_photo_f9db602277.jpg" alt="Magazín M / Radek Miča: Karel Šmejkal"/>
<h5>You specialise mainly in the study of natural substances. Why did they become the object of your interest?</h5>
It started at university when I was looking for a topic for my diploma thesis. I originally wanted to focus on pharmacology, but there were a lot of people interested in that topic, so I ended up with natural substances. I dug deeper into it and thought that was where the interesting stuff was. And it hasn’t really left me to this day. Since ancient times, medicinal and poisonous plants have served as a source of various medicinal applications and diverse uses. In the last 30 years, natural substances have been involved in the development and introduction of about 30 per cent of new medicines. Nature is very powerful in this respect. It&#39;s fascinating how every plant contains many specific substances that can be extracted, broken down and studied. The process of extracting natural substances is very interesting and adventurous. The more you get into it, the more you enjoy it. A friend of mine once told me that I was chasing coloured water from flask to flask for a living, and he was basically right.
<blockquote>
<h4>I originally wanted to focus on pharmacology, but there were a lot of people interested in that topic, so I ended up with natural substances. I dug deeper into it and thought that was where the interesting stuff was. And it hasn’t really left me to this day.</h4>
</blockquote>
<h5>The PSE Trends in Natural Products 2024 pharmaceutical conference, which your faculty is organising in Brno from 21 to 24 May, will focus on the natural sciences. How prestigious is this event?</h5>
It is a travelling conference that has been held in Paris and Crete in previous years. We applied to host the event before Covid-19 and now it has finally come to fruition. The event was sponsored by the Rector of Masaryk University and traditionally by the Phytochemical Society of Europe, of which I am a member and have been a board member in previous years. Coincidentally, this was the first international conference in 2008 that I actively participated in. This event is mainly aimed at young assistant professors and postgraduate students, giving them the opportunity to present their research to an international audience. It is a unique opportunity for supervisors and professors to share information and experience with young people in the field. We have 140 registered participants, and the programme will include around 50 presentations by students, PhD students and other distinguished guests. The main topic will be new developments in the field and the use of natural products in phytochemistry, pharmacy, food industry and cosmetics.
<h5>Your secondary focus is on bioassays of natural products, especially their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects. What results have you achieved in this area?</h5>
Our long-term focus has been on the effect of natural products on chronic inflammatory diseases, in particular the study of plant-derived polyphenols and their potential for practical application. We have isolated a number of substances called prenylated phenolics, e.g. from plants of the Moraceae family, which have anti-inflammatory properties comparable to reference corticosteroids. We are currently investigating modifications of such compounds to improve their solubility and bioavailability and thus potential practical applications. We have also investigated the effects of compounds on tumour growth. In this area, we have mainly collaborated with colleagues from Slovakia. With colleagues from the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Medicine, we have worked on the problem of multidrug resistance (MDR), which is a common problem in the treatment of cancer with chemotherapy.
<h5>For the first time this academic year, the Faculty of Pharmacy is offering a new Bachelor’s degree in Cosmetic Products. What feedback have you received?</h5>
We have been pleasantly surprised by the level of interest, which is expected to continue for years to come. We have already seen the number of applications for the next academic year almost double. It’s always great when we can choose from among the applicants and select the best candidates. But there has been a consistently high demand for our faculty for many years. Indeed, the pharmaceutical market is large and unsaturated, so the job prospects for our Master’s graduates are excellent, with a 99.9 per cent success rate. Most graduates go on to work in pharmacies, but there are also opportunities as clinical pharmacists, in research, in the pharmaceutical industry or in regulatory bodies.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Magazin_M_Radek_Mica_Vyzkum_je_pro_me_porad_vzrusujici_hra_b4f236c373.jpg" alt="Magazín M / Radek Miča: Karel Šmejkal: I still find research an exciting game."/>
<h5>How much will the Faculty’s move to the MUNI BioPharma Hub on the Bohunice campus contribute to additional opportunities for students?</h5>
This is of course an excellent opportunity, as we will have modern facilities fully equipped with everything we need. It will be especially great that all three faculties and other associated institutes of Masaryk University – the Faculties of Medicine, Science and Pharmacy, CEITEC and RECETOX – will be under one roof on the campus. We will be even more closely linked and have more opportunities for cooperation. The premises will also include a GMP laboratory, which will further strengthen the possibilities of scientific research and its practical application.
<h5>You also serve as Vice-Dean for International Relations and Internationalisation. How is the Faculty’s involvement in international projects going?</h5>
We greatly benefit in this respect from our internal Support for Strategic Management Projects programme, which I believe is the most useful programme of its kind at Masaryk University in terms of internationalisation. Thanks to it, we can welcome many international researchers and visiting professors to the Faculty of Pharmacy. Every semester we have about 10 experts from abroad who give lectures mainly to Master’s students. This is a great way to establish international contacts and cooperation.
<h5>Being Vice-Dean of the Faculty involves a lot of administrative and office work. How do you balance this with your research?</h5>
I try to keep in touch with the field. I continue to lecture, for example in the Toxicology of Natural Compounds course, which I am really passionate about. And I’m still active in the lab, helping to write new grant projects. I don’t want to lose the joy that has been with me since I started doing science. For me, research is still an exciting game where you’re playing with sophisticated, expensive instruments and gadgets. What I enjoy most is the contrast between precise and detailed research work and a certain playfulness that gives it a different perspective.

Karel Šmejkal: I still find research an exciting game

Graham Cooks, the Henry B. Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, recently achieved several research citation landmarks.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Purdue_University_Kaili_Mei_Yap_Professor_R_Graham_Cooks_achieves_research_milestones_cover_image_f7ba220d06.jpg" alt="Purdue University / Kaili Mei Yap: Professor R. Graham Cooks achieves research milestones ." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Purdue_University_Kaili_Mei_Yap_Professor_R_Graham_Cooks_achieves_research_milestones_cover_image_f7ba220d06.jpg 220w," sizes="100vw" width="900" height="638">One measure of the impact of a scientist is citation of their work. A ‘magic number’ in citations is 100,000, which Cooks recently surpassed.A second measure that combines numbers of citation and numbers of publications is the h-index - the number of publications that have been cited that number of times. Graham Cooks’ h-index is 150, meaning that 150 of his publications have been cited at least 150 times.His lab group recently celebrated these milestones.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Purdue_University_Kaili_Mei_Yap_Professor_R_Graham_Cooks_achieves_research_milestones_1_6bca79c097.jpg" alt="Purdue University / Kaili Mei Yap: Professor R. Graham Cooks achieves research milestones." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Purdue_University_Kaili_Mei_Yap_Professor_R_Graham_Cooks_achieves_research_milestones_1_6bca79c097.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="900" height="403"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Purdue_University_Professor_R_Graham_Cooks_achieves_research_milestones_2_e8ac6a84d8.jpg" alt="Purdue University: Professor R. Graham Cooks achieves research milestones." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Purdue_University_Professor_R_Graham_Cooks_achieves_research_milestones_2_e8ac6a84d8.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="2492" height="1332">

Professor R. Graham Cooks achieves research milestones

IOCB Prague is celebrating two significant achievements in the field of scientific research. Dr. Tomáš Pluskal, who leads a research group at the institute, has been accepted into the prestigious ‘Young Investigator Programme’ of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and has also secured one of Europe’s most competitive grants from the European Research Council (ERC).<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Tomas_Pluskal_receives_ERC_grant_and_joins_EMBO_Dr_Tomas_Pluskal_head_of_the_Biochemistry_of_Plant_Specialized_Metabolites_group_at_IOCB_Prague_d87373d9fa.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: Dr. Tomáš Pluskal, head of the Biochemistry of Plant Specialized Metabolites group at IOCB Prague." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Tomas_Pluskal_receives_ERC_grant_and_joins_EMBO_Dr_Tomas_Pluskal_head_of_the_Biochemistry_of_Plant_Specialized_Metabolites_group_at_IOCB_Prague_d87373d9fa.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2048" height="1367"><div>Dr. Pluskal's project, TerpenCode, caught the attention of the ERC with its innovative application of machine learning in biochemistry. The project seeks to overcome longstanding obstacles in enzyme development. Currently, it is impossible to accurately predict the functions of newly discovered enzymes or to generate enzymes for specific reactions. Dr. Pluskal has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant to pursue this project, securing more than 2 million euros for the next five years.“Progress in this field has been slow and remains highly limited. We’re currently capable of creating new versions of known enzymes, but no one has yet managed to develop entirely new enzymes for reactions we’ve never seen before,” explains <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pluskal.group.uochb.cz/en">Tomáš Pluskal</a> why he decided to focus his research on this area.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Tomas_Pluskal_receives_ERC_grant_and_joins_EMBO_Tomas_Pluskal_Group_ad9d65dff1.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: Tomáš Pluskal Group." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Tomas_Pluskal_receives_ERC_grant_and_joins_EMBO_Tomas_Pluskal_Group_ad9d65dff1.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1333">If these barriers are overcome, the result could be more efficient and environmentally sustainable production of pharmaceuticals, fragrances, biofuels, and other valuable chemical substances. Enzymes play a key role in biotechnology because they catalyze chemical reactions that are often difficult to achieve through organic synthesis.With six active ERC grants and a total of nine awarded in its history, IOCB Prague is among the top Czech institutions in obtaining this prestigious European funding.In addition to the ERC grant, Dr. Pluskal has also secured a position in the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). EMBO’s mission is to connect young, talented researchers with distinguished experts in the field. The ‘Young Investigator Programme’ offers more than just networking – it provides smaller grants, training opportunities, and mentorship.Membership in this elite scientific community highlights the global potential of Dr. Pluskal's research. EMBO aims to nurture this potential, supporting cutting-edge research that could have a profound impact on society at large.</div>

Tomáš Pluskal receives ERC grant and joins EMBO

How Chromatography Helps Build Better Catalysts

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Technical condition, configuration, support, and future operating costs may be just as critical.<h4>HPLC, UHPLC, and LC-MS Systems</h4>A significant part of the LabRulez Marketplace is dedicated to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/marketplace?category=37">liquid chromatography</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/marketplace?category=5">LC-MS instrumentation</a>.We offer new, pre-owned, and professionally refurbished HPLC and UHPLC systems, individual modules, and mass spectrometers. The portfolio ranges from reliable platforms for routine analytical work to advanced systems based on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/marketplace?category=20">triple quadrupole</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/marketplace?category=21">QTOF</a>, and Orbitrap technologies.Individual <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/marketplace?category=60">pumps, autosamplers, detectors, column compartments</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/marketplace?category=369">ion sources, vacuum components, electronic modules</a>, and other accessories are also available.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Lab_Rulez_marketplace_9e45decf1d.jpeg" alt="LabRulez: Service Center in Prague" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Lab_Rulez_marketplace_9e45decf1d.jpeg 197w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1264"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Lab_Rulez_marketplace_5_8e19fa8af8.jpeg" alt="LabRulez: Service Center in Prague" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Lab_Rulez_marketplace_5_8e19fa8af8.jpeg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="900"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Lab_Rulez_Agilent_61xx_series_Refurbished_5336b41046_30690573bd.jpg" alt="LabRulez: Service Center in Prague" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Lab_Rulez_Agilent_61xx_series_Refurbished_5336b41046_30690573bd.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="5712" height="4284">In many cases, replacing an entire instrument is not necessary. Because chromatographic systems are often modular, an existing setup can sometimes be repaired, upgraded, or expanded using a suitable module or replacement part.<h4>GC and GC-MS: From Routine Analysis to High-Resolution Platforms</h4>The same principle applies to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/marketplace?category=1">gas chromatography</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/marketplace?category=5">GC-MS</a>.The LabRulez portfolio includes conventional gas chromatographs equipped with standard detectors, single- and triple-quadrupole GC-MS systems, as well as GC/QTOF and other high-resolution platforms.The offering is complemented by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/marketplace?category=3">autosamplers, sample-introduction systems, headspace equipment</a>, gas generators, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/marketplace?category=7">GC columns</a>, accessories, and consumables.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Lab_Rulez_Agilent_Intuvo_9000_GC_System_S_SL_FID_G3950_A_60d45bdc35_e2131ff106.jpg" alt="LabRulez: Service Center in Prague - Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC systems" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Lab_Rulez_Agilent_Intuvo_9000_GC_System_S_SL_FID_G3950_A_60d45bdc35_e2131ff106.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1004">For laboratories that do not require the newest generation of instrumentation, a carefully inspected and properly configured pre-owned system can provide a highly cost-effective way to expand analytical capacity.<h4>More Than Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry</h4>Laboratory work depends on much more than chromatographs and mass spectrometers.The LabRulez Marketplace therefore also includes a broad range of general laboratory equipment, such as:<ul><li>pure and ultrapure water systems,</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/icpms/marketplace?category=295">analytical and laboratory balances</a>,</li><li>centrifuges,</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/icpms/marketplace?category=338">evaporators</a>,</li><li>vacuum equipment,</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/icpms/marketplace?category=219">UV-Vis spectrophotometers</a>,</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/icpms/marketplace?category=328">density meters,</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/icpms/marketplace?category=328">refractometers,</a></li><li>sample preparation systems,</li><li>and many other instruments used in everyday laboratory workflows.</li></ul>In these areas as well, extending the useful life of quality equipment can significantly reduce the cost of laboratory operation.<h4>Thousands of Spare Parts Under One Roof</h4>LabRulez provides new, refurbished, and professionally tested components for HPLC, UHPLC, GC, LC-MS, GC-MS, capillary electrophoresis, ICP-MS, and ICP-OES, among other technologies.These include components such as:<ul><li>pumps and pump assemblies,</li><li>valves,</li><li>autosampler components,</li><li>detectors,</li><li>ion sources,</li><li>vacuum pumps,</li><li>electronic and control boards,</li><li>power supplies,</li><li>sample-introduction components,</li><li>ion-optics components,</li><li>cables, sensors, and mechanical parts.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Lab_Rulez_marketplace_2_b474c13fcf.jpeg" alt="LabRulez: Service Center in Prague" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Lab_Rulez_marketplace_2_b474c13fcf.jpeg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="900"><blockquote>Professionally tested parts are supplied with a standard three-month warranty.</blockquote>The available inventory also extends beyond the items currently listed online. Many additional components can be sourced on request from the hundreds of systems and modules held in stock at the service center.For older analytical systems, access to the right spare part can make the difference between continued reliable operation and premature replacement.<h4>See, Test, or Rent Selected Instruments</h4>One of the advantages of having our own service center is the ability to work directly with the instrumentation before it reaches the customer.<blockquote>Selected systems can be viewed in Prague, tested during a practical demonstration, or rented.</blockquote>Depending on the project, LabRulez can help with selecting the right configuration, checking the technical condition of the system, and arranging transportation, installation, warranty, service, and long-term technical support.For the customer, purchasing pre-owned instrumentation therefore does not have to mean simply receiving a used instrument from storage. The objective is to provide equipment that can be realistically integrated into laboratory operations.<h4>What Happens to Instruments a Laboratory No Longer Needs?</h4>The same system also works in the opposite direction. Laboratories regularly end up with chromatographs, mass spectrometers, modules, or other laboratory equipment that is no longer required because of modernization, changes in analytical methods, completed projects, or laboratory restructuring.<blockquote>Through the LabRulez Marketplace, unused equipment can be submitted for professional evaluation, direct purchase, or resale.</blockquote>Instead of remaining in storage or being discarded prematurely, high-quality instrumentation can find a new user and return to active laboratory service.<h4>Extending Instrument Lifetime Makes Sense</h4>Modern analytical instruments require significant amounts of materials, energy, engineering, and highly specialized components to manufacture. At the same time, they are designed for many years of professional operation.<blockquote>Replacing them is therefore not always the only option.</blockquote>If an instrument can be professionally inspected, refurbished, upgraded with suitable modules, or repaired using available spare parts, it may continue producing high-quality analytical data for many additional years.This approach offers several advantages at the same time: lower investment costs for laboratories, longer availability of proven analytical platforms, reduced disposal of laboratory equipment, and more efficient use of technologies that have already been manufactured.<h4>LabRulez: Information, Technology, and Service in One Place</h4>By connecting specialist portals, the Marketplace, and the Prague service center, LabRulez creates an environment where technical information meets real laboratory technology.Laboratories can access application materials and know-how, follow new developments, search for instruments or spare parts, and at the same time offer equipment they no longer need.<blockquote>The idea behind it is simple:Analytical instruments deserve more than one life.Longer instrument lifetime. Smarter decisions. A more sustainable future for analytical chemistry.</blockquote>

LabRulez Service Center: A Second Life for Analytical Instruments

RAFA 2026 Scientific Programme

Autumn has already turned the leaves into vibrant shades, and with the end of the year approaching, we would like to thank you - before the first snowflakes arrive - for your trust, cooperation, and continued interest in our products and services.As a long-standing distributor of Thermo Scientific Finnpipette products, we know that the accuracy and reliability of laboratory results often begin with seemingly small details. Choosing the right pipette and tip is one of the first steps toward a successful analysis.That is why we have prepared an EXCLUSIVE offer to help you replenish your laboratory supplies at a more attractive price, while also thanking you for your continued cooperation and trust.<blockquote>EXCLUSIVE OFFER valid until the end of 2026<ul><li>10% off tips</li><li>10% off pipettes</li></ul>Enter the code “KAŠTANY” in your order or include it in your order e-mail.*For larger orders, an additional discount may be available.</blockquote><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_pipety_a_spicky_thermo_20c5943161.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Scientific Pipettes and Tips" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_pipety_a_spicky_thermo_20c5943161.jpg 146w," sizes="100vw" width="1500" height="1605"><h4>LIMITED OFFER WHILE STOCKS LAST</h4><h5>Everything ages. Precision remains.</h5>Finnpipette tips are proof of that.<h4>Tip Offer</h4><h5>FT 200 FLEX Tips</h5><ul><li>Code: L94060320</li><li>Pack size: 1,000 pcs</li><li>LOT: 20165B0</li><li>EXP: 20 June 2025</li><li>Price: CZK 1,761 (30% discount)</li></ul><h5>FT 1000 Tips</h5><ul><li>Code: L9401070</li><li>Pack size: 200 pcs/box</li><li>LOT: 20346A0</li><li>EXP: 20 December 2025</li><li>Price: CZK 464 (30% discount)</li></ul><h5>Labtip Blue Tips</h5><ul><li>Code: L94300250</li><li>Pack size: 60 pcs/rack</li><li>LOT: 21104B2</li><li>EXP: 20 April 2026</li><li>Price: CZK 206 (20% discount)</li></ul><h5>FT Filter Sterile 10 µL Tips</h5><ul><li>Code: L94052100</li><li>Pack size: 10 × 96 pcs/rack</li><li>LOT: 21136B1</li><li>EXP: 20 May 2026</li><li>Price: CZK 3,740 (20% discount)</li></ul><h4>Types of Thermo Fisher Scientific Pipette Tips</h4><h5>FILTERED</h5><ul><li>help prevent aerosol contamination,</li><li>suitable for PCR and critical samples.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_spicky_Thermo_s_filtrem_4eb500736e.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Fisher Scientific Filtered Tip" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_spicky_Thermo_s_filtrem_4eb500736e.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="450" height="120"><h5>NON-FILTERED</h5><ul><li>economical and high quality,</li><li>suitable for routine samples.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_spicky_Thermo_bez_filtru_eea16c4ae1.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Fisher Scientific Non-Filtered Tips" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_spicky_Thermo_bez_filtru_eea16c4ae1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="442" height="147"><h5>EXTENDED-LENGTH</h5><ul><li>allow deeper access while helping reduce contamination risk,</li><li>suitable for tissue culture, media preparation, and tall laboratory vessels.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_spicky_Thermo_prodlouzene_2005b4125f.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Fisher Scientific Extended-Length Tip" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_spicky_Thermo_prodlouzene_2005b4125f.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="407" height="118"><h5>MICRO</h5><ul><li>improve accuracy for low-volume samples and support efficient sample transfer,</li><li>suitable for critical and valuable samples and low-volume pipetting.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_spicky_Thermo_micro_9b5879704a.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Fisher Scientific Micro Tip" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_spicky_Thermo_micro_9b5879704a.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="435" height="115"><h5>MACRO</h5><ul><li>improve accuracy when working with larger sample volumes,</li><li>can serve as an alternative to serological pipettes.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_spicky_Thermo_macro_8fb12684a7.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Fisher Scientific Macro Tip" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_spicky_Thermo_macro_8fb12684a7.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="395" height="121"><h5>WIDE-BORE</h5><ul><li>the wide opening helps prevent cell lysis and improves accuracy when working with viscous solutions,</li><li>suitable for cell handling, macromolecular structures such as DNA, and highly viscous solutions.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/analytika_spicky_Thermo_siroky_otvor_9d6ad5537e.jpg" alt="analytika: Thermo Fisher Scientific Wide-Bore Tip" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_analytika_spicky_Thermo_siroky_otvor_9d6ad5537e.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="397" height="127">

Equip Your Laboratory for Autumn at a Better Price

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Měsíčník a zpravodajský portál brněnské Masarykovy univerzity. Informuje o aktuálním dění na univerzitě, vědě a výzkumu, studentském životě i akademickém sportu. Přináší rozhovory s významnými osobnostmi univerzity a se zajímavými absolventy.

Magazín M

Since 1991 DataApex develops and manufactures chromatography data stations. DataApex is constantly striving to provide users with efficient and up-to-date tools for chromatography data processing.

DataApex

RAFA provides an overview of contemporary trends in ANALYTICAL & BIOANALYTICAL STRATEGIES IN FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY CONTROL and discusses CHALLENGES / NOVEL APPROACHES IN FOOD AND NATURAL PRODUCTS ANALYSIS.

Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA)

The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Everything from the world of analytical chemistry in one place. We connect people in solving their problems. At Labrulez you will find all the necessary information easily, quickly and clearly. Stop searching and start finding.

LabRulez

Analytika is a Czech company that offers and produces certified reference materials (CRM) and (ultra)pure chemicals for quality control and quality assurance in laboratories, including accredited laboratories.

Our portfolio also includes pipettes and tips, digestors, PFA labware and other equipment for analytical laboratory and trace analysis.

ANALYTIKA

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  MIT is devoted to the advancement of knowledge and education of students in areas that contribute to or prosper in an environment of science and technology.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Purdue University is a vast laboratory for discovery. The university is known not only for science, technology, engineering, and math programs, but also for our imagination, ingenuity, and innovation. It’s a place where those who seek an education come to make their ideas real — especially when those transformative discoveries lead to scientific, technological, social, or humanitarian impact.

Purdue University

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

Equip Your Laboratory for Autumn at a Better Price

RAFA 2026 Scientific Programme

LabRulez Service Center: A Second Life for Analytical Instruments

How Chromatography Helps Build Better Catalysts

Tomáš Pluskal receives ERC grant and joins EMBO

Professor R. Graham Cooks achieves research milestones

Karel Šmejkal: I still find research an exciting game

Researchers detect a new molecule in space

Researchers develop a detector for continuously monitoring toxic gases

Replace your current Chromatography Software with Clarity and Save Big!

Upcoming events

Thermo Fisher Scientific Analytical solutions forum

LECO GCxGC One Day Workshop

20th International Interdisciplinary Meeting on Bioanalysis – CECE 2026

Webinars

Waters Empower Tips: Ask Me Anything About Periodic Audit Trail Review

Seeing inside multilayer materials with IR and Raman microscopy

Next-Generation Bath Monitoring for Semiconductor Manufacturing