<p><strong>Join us for a free two-day LECO Separation Science Workshop on September 23–24, 2026, at the </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/companies/219"><strong>C³AL Laboratory</strong></a><strong> at Cal State LA. Registration is free, and meals and refreshments will be provided throughout the workshop.&nbsp;</strong></p><h4><strong>Registration</strong></h4><blockquote><p class="cke-user_style-important"><strong>👉</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=iYeNbqIuykW7qZP4_jUEVbznDB40eK1PgjPzhHyb__9URTFTTFA5UEEzQ1A4MUtFV0o4TEJTNlZCOS4u&amp;route=shorturl"><strong>Register HERE</strong></a></p><p class="cke-user_style-important"><strong>Space is limited, register today!</strong></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_LECO_Separation_Science_Workshop_registration_332543a18e.jpg" alt="LECO: LECO Separation Science Workshop - QR code for registration" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_LECO_Separation_Science_Workshop_registration_332543a18e.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="437" height="437"></p></blockquote><h4><strong>Hand-on Experience with the LECO Complex Chemical Composition Analysis Lab C<sup>3</sup>AL</strong></h4><ul><li>Work directly with LECO instruments in the C<sup>3</sup>AL Laboratory</li><li>Learn complete analytical workflows from sample to answer</li><li>Get expert guidance from LECO application scientists</li><li>Develop methods and solve real-world challenges</li><li>Collaborate, ask questions, and build your skills</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Cal_State_LA_The_LECO_Pegasus_BTX_system_in_Cal_State_LA_s_LECO_Complex_Chemical_Compositional_Analysis_Lab_enhances_research_and_student_training_in_advanced_chemical_analysis_cover_b739e727ca.jpg" alt="Cal State LA: The LECO Pegasus BTX system in Cal State LA’s LECO Complex Chemical Compositional Analysis Lab enhances research and student training in advanced chemical analysis" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Cal_State_LA_The_LECO_Pegasus_BTX_system_in_Cal_State_LA_s_LECO_Complex_Chemical_Compositional_Analysis_Lab_enhances_research_and_student_training_in_advanced_chemical_analysis_cover_b739e727ca.jpg 227w," sizes="100vw" width="1252" height="863"></p><p>The first day will focus on the <strong>fundamentals and theory</strong> of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (<strong>GC×GC</strong>), with an emphasis on understanding how GC×GC can enhance your research, solve complex analytical challenges, and support your laboratory or company goals.&nbsp;</p><p>The second day will be dedicated to <strong>hands-on activities</strong>, giving participants the opportunity to work directly with <strong>LECO instrumentation</strong>, learn <strong>practical analytical workflows</strong>, and <strong>analyze their own samples</strong> with guidance from LECO application scientists.&nbsp;</p><p>Whether you are new to GC×GC or looking to expand its use in your research or organization, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn, explore, and apply the technology in a practical setting. Space is limited, so register early!</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Cal_State_LA_LECO_QUADJET_G_Cx_GC_coupled_to_Pegasus_BT_4_D_TOM_MS_in_the_Complex_Chemical_Composition_Analysis_Lab_C_AL_077a14ae34/Cal-State-LA-LECO-QUADJET-GCxGC-coupled-to-Pegasus-BT-4D-TOM-MS-in-the-Complex-Chemical-Composition-Analysis-Lab-(CAL).jpg" alt="Cal State LA: LECO QUADJET GCxGC coupled to Pegasus BT 4D TOM MS in the Complex Chemical Composition Analysis Lab (C³AL)" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Cal_State_LA_LECO_QUADJET_G_Cx_GC_coupled_to_Pegasus_BT_4_D_TOM_MS_in_the_Complex_Chemical_Composition_Analysis_Lab_C_AL_077a14ae34/thumbnail_Cal-State-LA-LECO-QUADJET-GCxGC-coupled-to-Pegasus-BT-4D-TOM-MS-in-the-Complex-Chemical-Composition-Analysis-Lab-(CAL).jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1949" height="1299"></p>

LECO Separation Science Workshop

<p><strong>TL;DR: Helium prices have roughly doubled since the Iran conflict began in early 2026, with global supply from Qatar — responsible for approximately one-third of world production — severely disrupted. For laboratories running gas chromatography and other helium-dependent instruments, the financial and operational impact is impossible to ignore.</strong></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Organomation_The_Helium_Crisis_Is_Here_Why_Laboratories_Should_Switch_to_Hydrogen_Now_695ff1ef1a.jpg" alt="Organomation: The Helium Crisis Is Here: Why Laboratories Should Switch to Hydrogen Now" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Organomation_The_Helium_Crisis_Is_Here_Why_Laboratories_Should_Switch_to_Hydrogen_Now_695ff1ef1a.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1000" height="608"></p><h3><strong>Part 1: The Helium Price Crisis — What Happened and Why It Matters to Your Lab</strong></h3><h4><strong>A Perfect Storm in the Helium Market</strong></h4><p>Helium has never been a cheap commodity, but what laboratories are facing in 2026 represents a genuine inflection point. The combination of escalating Middle East conflict, Strait of Hormuz shipping disruptions, and structural supply constraints has created the most severe helium pricing environment in recent memory — one that shows no sign of rapid reversal.</p><p>To understand why laboratory budgets are under pressure, it helps to understand where helium actually comes from. Unlike most industrial gases, helium cannot be manufactured. It is a byproduct of radioactive decay deep within the Earth's crust, and it must be captured from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://businessanalytiq.com/procurementanalytics/index/helium-price-index/"><strong>natural gas deposits </strong></a>before it escapes into the atmosphere. The practical result is that the entire world's commercial helium supply flows from a small number of producing regions — most critically, the United States and Qatar.</p><h4><strong>Qatar: The World's Helium Chokepoint</strong></h4><p>Qatar is responsible for approximately <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/price-forecast/helium-price-trends"><strong>one-third of global helium production</strong></a>, channeled through QatarEnergy LNG's massive purification facility at Ras Laffan Industrial City, which draws from the North Field — the world's largest non-associated natural gas reservoir. When this facility operates normally, it is the single largest stabilizing force in the global helium market. When it is disrupted, the entire world feels it.</p><p>In early 2026, it stopped operating normally. Iranian missile strikes damaged key industrial infrastructure in Qatar, and the resulting disruption to Ras Laffan created an immediate supply shock. Compounding the damage, the Strait of Hormuz — the critical shipping corridor through which Qatari LNG and helium exports must pass — became subject to elevated war-risk premiums and logistical disruptions that pushed shipping costs sharply higher.</p><h4><strong>Beyond Price: The Supply Reliability Problem</strong></h4><p>For laboratory managers, the helium crisis is not merely a budget problem — it is an operational continuity problem. A laboratory that cannot obtain helium cannot run its gas chromatography (GC) instruments, cannot perform MRI maintenance or calibration, and cannot complete analytical work that clients and researchers depend upon.</p><p>Supply allocation tightening, spot market shortages, and delays at ports serving Middle Eastern shipping lanes have created a new reality: even laboratories with long-term supply contracts have experienced <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.procurementresource.com/resource-center/helium-price-trends"><strong>delivery disruptions</strong></a>. The gas that was once ordered and reliably delivered within a predictable lead time now arrives subject to geopolitical delays entirely outside the laboratory's control.</p><p>This represents a fundamental shift in risk exposure for laboratory operations. Helium's value to a laboratory was always its combination of technical performance and reliable availability. The second pillar of that value proposition has been significantly eroded.</p><h4><strong>Who Is Most Affected in the Laboratory Setting?</strong></h4><p>While the helium price surge affects any organization that uses the gas, laboratories face a particularly acute version of the problem for several reasons:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=98&amp;manufacturerItems=540"><strong>GC carrier gas</strong></a><strong> consumption: </strong>Gas chromatography is one of the largest industrial uses of high-purity helium. Analytical laboratories running continuous GC workflows — environmental testing, pharmaceutical QC, food safety, petrochemical analysis — consume helium at a high, predictable rate. When the price of that gas doubles, it represents a direct and substantial increase in the variable cost of every single analytical run.</li><li><strong>No short-term substitution:</strong> Unlike some industrial uses where helium can be temporarily swapped for another gas, GC methods are validated for specific carrier gases. Switching requires revalidation — a time-consuming, resource-intensive process that cannot be completed in response to an acute supply disruption.</li><li><strong>Contractual and regulatory obligations: </strong>Laboratories operating under accreditation, client contracts, or regulatory frameworks face potential non-compliance consequences if supply disruptions prevent them from completing required analyses. The cost of a helium shortage extends far beyond the gas itself.</li></ul><h3><strong>Part 2: The Strategic Case for Switching to Hydrogen — and Installing a Generator</strong></h3><h4><strong>Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas: The Science Is Already Settled</strong></h4><p>The argument for<strong> </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.organomation.com/hydrogen-generators-for-chromatography"><strong>hydrogen as a GC carrier gas</strong></a><strong> </strong>is not new, and it is not driven solely by economics. For many applications, hydrogen is technically superior to helium. Its higher diffusivity in the column results in faster analyte movement, enabling shorter run times and higher throughput without loss of resolution. The van Deemter curve for hydrogen is flatter over a wider range of flow rates, giving analysts more operating flexibility.</p><p>The US EPA, the European pharmacopoeias, and numerous international standards bodies have long recognized hydrogen as an acceptable — and in some cases preferred — carrier gas for GC methods. Chromatography column and instrument manufacturers including Agilent, Shimadzu, PerkinElmer, and Thermo Fisher have published detailed application notes and validated methods for hydrogen carrier gas, often demonstrating equivalent or improved performance relative to helium.</p><p><strong>In short:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.organomation.com/transitioning-from-helium-to-hydrogen-what-you-need-to-know"><strong>switching from helium to hydrogen</strong></a><strong> </strong>for GC is not an experimental or unproven step. It is a well-established, widely validated practice that thousands of laboratories around the world have already completed. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/helium-prices-surge-400-to-record-highs-as-global-supply-shortage-persist-in-the-rise-of-ai"><strong>current pricing environment</strong></a><strong> </strong>simply makes the decision more urgent — and the financial case more compelling — than it has ever been before.</p><h4><strong>Why Cylinders Are Not the Answer</strong></h4><p>It might be tempting to view the hydrogen transition simply as swapping one gas cylinder supplier for another. This approach misunderstands both the nature of the problem and the opportunity. Hydrogen delivered in cylinders carries its own logistical challenges: cylinder handling and storage requirements, regular delivery schedules, the same kind of supply chain dependencies that have proven so costly with helium, and — critically — safety considerations around the storage of high-pressure hydrogen in laboratory spaces.</p><p>The correct solution, adopted by the most forward-thinking laboratory managers, is to install an on-site hydrogen generator. This single decision transforms the laboratory's gas supply from a variable, externally-dependent cost into a stable, internally-controlled utility — analogous to the difference between buying bottled water and installing a purified water system.</p><h4><strong>The Hydrogen Generator Advantage: Six Reasons to Make the Switch</strong></h4><h5><strong>1. Complete Supply Independence</strong></h5><p>A hydrogen generator produces gas on demand from deionized water using electrolysis. There is no supply chain to be disrupted by conflict in the Middle East. There is no shipping container to be delayed at a port. There is no cylinder to run out mid-run. The laboratory's hydrogen supply is as reliable as its electricity supply — and in most facilities, that is extremely reliable.</p><p>For laboratory managers who have spent the past year managing helium allocation anxiety, explaining supply disruptions to clients, and rescheduling analytical work around delivery delays, this represents a profound operational upgrade.</p><h5><strong>2. Long-Term Cost Predictability and Savings</strong></h5><p>Hydrogen generators produce gas at a cost primarily determined by electricity consumption. Electricity prices, while subject to some variation, are dramatically more stable than helium spot markets and are not subject to geopolitical disruptions of the kind that have driven helium prices to double in a matter of months.</p><p>The total cost of ownership analysis for hydrogen generation versus helium cylinder purchase — factoring in current helium pricing, cylinder rental fees, delivery charges, and handling costs — now firmly favors hydrogen generation for any laboratory running one or more GC instruments full-time. With helium prices having doubled since the onset of the Iran conflict, the payback period for a generator investment has shortened significantly.</p><h5><strong>3. Superior Gas Purity and Consistency</strong></h5><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=98&amp;manufacturerItems=540"><strong>Modern hydrogen generators </strong></a>produce gas at <strong>purities of 99.9999% or higher </strong>— exceeding the purity specifications required for the most demanding analytical GC applications. Critically, this purity is consistent from the first milliliter of gas produced to the last. There is no batch-to-batch variation, no risk of receiving a cylinder with a contamination issue, and no requirement to test incoming gas quality.</p><p>For laboratories operating under strict quality systems — ISO 17025, GMP, EPA method compliance — the shift to a generator can actually improve data quality and simplify the supplier qualification burden associated with managing a rotating roster of gas cylinder suppliers.</p><h5><strong>4. Improved Laboratory Safety Profile</strong></h5><p>Hydrogen requires appropriate safety management — adequate ventilation, hydrogen-compatible fittings, and basic leak detection protocols. These requirements are straightforward and well-understood, and are entirely manageable in a standard analytical laboratory environment. Modern hydrogen generators include integrated safety systems including automatic shutdown on leak detection, pressure limiting, and fail-safe electronics.</p><p>What is often overlooked is that a hydrogen generator improves overall laboratory safety relative to the cylinder-based alternative by eliminating the need to store and handle high-pressure compressed gas cylinders. The generator contains only a small volume of hydrogen at any given time — far less than a standard gas cylinder — and delivers it directly to the instrument through short, fixed lines.</p><h5><strong>5. Environmental and Sustainability Benefits</strong></h5><p>Helium extraction is an energy-intensive industrial process. The gas must be separated from natural gas streams, compressed, liquefied, and transported globally — often by sea freight from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://businessanalytiq.com/procurementanalytics/index/helium-price-index/"><strong>Qatar or the United States</strong></a>. Each step in that chain carries an environmental cost.</p><p>Hydrogen generation from water electrolysis has a fundamentally different environmental profile, particularly for laboratories that operate in facilities with access to renewable electricity. As laboratory sustainability programs become an increasing priority — driven by institutional ESG commitments, client expectations, and regulatory trends — the ability to point to an on-site, low-carbon gas supply is a meaningful differentiator.</p><h5><strong>6. Future-Proofing Against Ongoing Helium Market Instability</strong></h5><p>The current price spike is not an anomaly that will self-correct quickly. The structural conditions driving helium price increases — concentrated supply in geopolitically exposed regions, growing demand from semiconductor manufacturing and MRI imaging, the irreversibility of atmospheric helium loss once released — are not going away. New supply projects in South Africa, Canada, and elsewhere will add capacity over the medium term,but forecasters broadly expect helium pricing to remain elevated relative to historical norms.</p><p>A laboratory that installs a hydrogen generator today is not just solving the 2026 problem. It is making a strategic decision that positions the organization to be independent of whatever the next helium supply shock looks like.</p><p><strong>At a Glance: Helium Cylinder vs. On-Site Hydrogen Generation</strong></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Organomation_The_Helium_Crisis_Is_Here_Why_Laboratories_Should_Switch_to_Hydrogen_Now_2_77969fd7aa.jpg" alt="Organomation: The Helium Crisis Is Here: Why Laboratories Should Switch to Hydrogen Now" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Organomation_The_Helium_Crisis_Is_Here_Why_Laboratories_Should_Switch_to_Hydrogen_Now_2_77969fd7aa.jpg 209w," sizes="100vw" width="1007" height="750"></p><h4><strong>How Organomation Supports Your Transition to Hydrogen</strong></h4><p>At Organomation, we have been supporting analytical laboratories with precision gas handling and concentration equipment for over six decades. We understand that the decision to transition carrier gases is not made lightly — it involves instrument requalification, method validation, staff training, and procurement changes that require planning and support.</p><p>Our team, in combination with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://claind.it/"><strong>Claind srl</strong></a>, can assist laboratories at every stage of the hydrogen transition: from initial feasibility assessment and instrument compatibility review, through gas flow optimization and generator sizing, to ongoing technical support after installation. We work with the leading hydrogen generator manufacturers and can help you specify the right system for your instrument fleet and throughput requirements.</p><p>The current helium pricing environment has created a narrow window in which laboratories that act decisively will establish a structural cost and reliability advantage over those that continue to absorb rising helium costs. We invite you to start that conversation with us today.</p><p>Contact the Organomation team to schedule a complimentary laboratory gas assessment and begin your transition to on-site hydrogen generation. Visit organomation.com or call us to speak with an applications specialist.</p><h4><strong>The Moment to Act Is Now</strong></h4><p>The helium crisis of 2026 is not a temporary inconvenience — it is a structural realignment of the global gas supply market, accelerated by a geopolitical conflict whose resolution timeline remains uncertain. Laboratories that approach this as a passing disruption to be absorbed through budget adjustments are likely to find themselves absorbing those costs indefinitely.</p><p>The case for switching to hydrogen carrier gas and installing an on-site hydrogen generator has never been more compelling. The technology is proven, the performance is validated, the safety is manageable, and the economics — already favorable before the current price surge — are now overwhelmingly advantageous.</p><p>The laboratories that will emerge from this crisis in the strongest position are those that use it as the catalyst to make a change they should have made years ago. The question is no longer whether to make the switch — it is how quickly you can do it.</p>

The Helium Crisis Is Here: Why Laboratories Should Switch to Hydrogen Now

<p><strong>Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezGCMS Library in the week of 24th August 2026? Check out new documents from the field of the gas phase, especially GC and GC/MS techniques!</strong></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:20px;">👉 </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library"><span style="font-size:20px;"><strong>SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT GCMS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques?</strong> Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library"><strong>LabRulezLCMS</strong></a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library"><strong>LabRulezICPMS</strong></a> libraries.</p></blockquote><p>This week we bring you application notes by <strong>Shimadzu, Thermo Fisher Scientific </strong>and <strong>Waters Corporation </strong>and poster by<strong> MDCW / GC Image!</strong></p><h3><strong>1. MDCW / GC Image: Alignment and Filtering Tools for Enhanced Differencing of Two-Dimensional Chromatograms</strong></h3><ul><li>Poster</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/P_21_Wu_3838638ea4.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><section><div><div><div><div><div><div><h5><strong>Challenges&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>Chromatogram-like visual differencing is intuitive, yet simple pixel-to-pixel subtraction often produces noisy artifacts, fails to correct retention-time shifts, and can obscure low-intensity but meaningful differences.&nbsp;</p><p>Previously, we developed comparative visualization methods [1] based on classic image-comparison techniques, including:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Alignment with specialized color maps to visually highlight discrepancies between chromatograms&nbsp;</li><li>Interactive matching across two chromatograms [2], enabling both qualitative and quantitative side-by-side assessment at the individual-peak level&nbsp;</li></ul><p>We extend this work by presenting a more robust chromatogram differencing visualization method designed to overcome these limitations</p><h4><strong>Example 1: Alignment for Data Fusion (FID vs MS)&nbsp;</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Data Set:</strong> GCxGC data of a diesel fuel sample&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Instruments:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=7890A"><strong>Agilent 7890A GC</strong></a>/InfoMass L10 thermal modulator/Hexin TOFMS<ul><li><strong>Detectors:</strong> FID (350 C, 200 Hz), MS (45-450 m/z, 50 Hz)&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Modulation:</strong> 6 seconds with programmable cold jet gas flow (15L/min to 6 L/min)</li></ul></li></ul><h4><strong>Example 2: Differencing (GC×GC-MS)&nbsp;</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Data Set: </strong>GCxGC-TOFMS data set of different dark chocolates [3].</li><li><strong>Instruments: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=23&amp;search=AccuTof"><strong>JEOL AccuTof GC mass spectrometer</strong></a> with an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=7890"><strong>Agilent 7890 GC</strong></a></li></ul><h4><strong>Example 3: Differencing with BPC (LC×LC-MS)&nbsp;</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>Data Set:</strong> LCxLC-MS data of different types of beer [4].&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Instruments: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=1290+infinity+2D-LC"><strong>Agilent 1290 Infinity 2D-LC</strong></a> solution coupled with an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=6530"><strong>Agilent 6530 Accurate-Mass Q-TOF LC/MS system</strong></a></li></ul><h3><strong>2. Shimadzu: Comprehensive and High-Sensitivity Analysis of Food Aroma by Simultaneous Scan/MRM Measurement Using Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS</strong></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/an_01_01269_en_657ee319e0.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><h4><strong>User benefits</strong></h4><ul><li>Simultaneous scan/MRM measurement enables comprehensive search by scan measurement and high-sensitivity analysis of trace aroma compounds by MRM in a single measurement.&nbsp;</li><li>With LabSolutions Insight Explore GCMS, deconvolution analysis of scan data and target analysis of MRM data are possible in a single software program.&nbsp;</li><li>The Multi-Mode Injection Unit (MMI), which allows rapid heating, supports aroma analysis in the thermal desorption (TD) mode</li></ul><p>The “aroma” of food products and beverages is a key factor that largely determines product quality and consumer preferences, and thus is an extremely important element in product development and quality control. Since the gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC-MS) provides excellent performance in qualitative analysis of volatile compounds, it is used to measure various aroma components that make up an odor. However, due to the diversity of aroma compounds and their wide concentration range, which extends from the ppm to the ppt order, an analytical method that allows efficient measurement of these substances is demanded.&nbsp;</p><p>Non-targeted analysis by scan measurement is an effective tool for comprehensive profiling, but in many cases, it is difficult to identify the trace components that make a significant contribution to aroma due to the limits of instrument sensitivity and matrix interference. On the other hand, although widetarget analysis by the MRM (Multiple Reaction Monitoring) mode using GC-MS/MS offers high sensitivity and selectivity for several hundred target components, MRM lacks a search capability for unknown components.</p><p>Therefore, this Application News article reports a technique that satisfies both comprehensive non-targeted search and highsensitivity detection of trace components in a single analysis by combining the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=8040+RX"><strong>GCMS-TQ 8040 RX</strong></a>, which supports simultaneous data acquisition in simultaneous multi-component analysis measurements by scan measurement and the MRM mode, and the Smart Aroma Database for use in aroma analysis. In addition, in this experiment, the thermal desorption (TD) mode of the Multi-Mode Injection Unit (MMI) was adopted for sample introduction. This enablesintroduction of componentstapped on the adsorbent without using a dedicated TD device, thereby achieving a simplified system configuration.</p><h4><strong>Conclusion&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>This Application News article showed that it is possible to achieve both a comprehensive non-targeted analysis of food aroma and a high-sensitivity wide-target analysis of trace components in a single analysis, without carrying out complicated operations, by simultaneous scan/MRM measurement combining the GCMSTQ8040 RX and the Smart Aroma Database. This article also demonstrated that use of the Multi-Mode Injection Unit (MMI) enables measurements in the thermal desorption (TD) mode without using dedicated TD instrumentation, and also allows a flexible response in case of budgetary or installation space limitations. A comprehensive aroma evaluation based on this approach will facilitate the discovery of important aroma components that were easily overlooked in the past, and is expected to make important contributions to product development and quality control in the food and beverage industries.</p><h3><strong>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Implementing EPA OTM-50 for PFAS destruction monitoring by TD-GC-MS/MS</strong></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/an_004773_gc_td_gc_ms_epa_otm_50_pfas_an04773_na_en_99fd5fc528.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are used across a broad range of industrial and consumer applications. As PFAS-containing materials are treated or destroyed, incomplete decomposition can generate volatile fluorinated compounds, including short-chain and ultra-volatile species. These volatile compounds are important because they may provide evidence of incomplete mineralization once emitted from stationary sources.</p><p>EPA OTM-50 was developed to provide a consistent approach for collecting and quantitatively analyzing target VFCs from emissions originating from known industrial products with incomplete thermal destruction. The EPA method uses passivated stainlesssteel canisters followed by GC-MS analysis and is applicable to gas samples collected from industrial source ducts, vents, stacks, and related emission points.&nbsp;</p><p>The method is performance-based, allowing laboratories flexibility in GC column selection, GC conditions, and MS conditions, provided that GC-MS remains the basis for separation and quantitation and the required performance criteria are met. This flexibility is important because OTM-50 analytes span a challenging volatility range and may occur in complex matrices containing CO2 , water vapor, acid gases, and other volatile organic compounds.&nbsp;</p><p>Gas chromatography-based approaches are well suited to volatile and neutral fluorinated compounds. Thermal desorption enables preconcentration of trace-level analytes from air samples, improving sensitivity and enabling detection at relevant levels for environmental studies.&nbsp;</p><p>This application note describes implementation of EPA OTM-50 using cryogen-free thermal desorption coupled to triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS. The workflow addresses key analytical challenges: trapping ultra-volatile compounds such as CF4 , managing high levels of CO2 and humidity, achieving sub-ppbv sensitivity, and maintaining repeatable quantitative performance in support of PFAS destruction monitoring.</p><h4><strong>Experimental&nbsp;</strong></h4><h5><strong>Instrument configuration&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>The analytical system consisted of a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=6&amp;search=UNITY-Kori-CIA"><strong>Markes UNITY</strong></a><strong>-Kori-CIA Advantage HL-xr thermal desorption system</strong> coupled to a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/485"><strong>TSQ 9610 Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS</strong></a> equipped with a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=3&amp;search=nevervent"><strong>Thermo Scientific™ NeverVent™ AEI Ion Source</strong></a> (Figure 1). The Markes thermal desorber configuration included cryogen-free focusing, controlled canister introduction, and water and CO2 management strategies.</p><h4><strong>Conclusions&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>This work demonstrates implementation of EPA OTM-50 using thermal desorption coupled to triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS for the analysis of volatile fluorinated compounds in air, with solutions helping to solve key analytical challenges for this type of analysis.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>Alignment with EPA OTM-50 scope:</strong> supports canisterbased analysis of VFCs emitted from stationary sources, including compounds associated with incomplete PFAS destruction.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Cryogen-free preconcentration:</strong> enables practical trapping and transfer of volatile analytes without reliance on liquid cryogens, reducing operational complexity.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Improved selectivity through MS/MS: </strong>SRM acquisition on the TSQ 9610 Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS improves confidence in target identification and quantitation in complex emission matrices.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Dual-method strategy for broad volatility coverage:</strong> separate sample volumes for CF4 and the remaining VFCs enable analysis across the challenging OTM-50 volatility range.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>CO2 and humidity management:</strong> controlled dilution, selective trap purging, and Kori-xr water management address two of the most significant matrix challenges in stationary source emissions.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Robust quantitative performance: </strong>calibration across 0.1–100 ppbv (0.125–50 ppbv for CF4 ) showed R2 ≥ 0.998 for reported compounds or &lt; 20% RSD for Average Response Factor, with pptv MDLs and repeatability generally consistent with OTM-50 precision expectations.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Industrial relevance: </strong>the workflow supports chemical manufacturing, PFAS treatment, and waste management facilities seeking defensible data to evaluate destruction efficiency and identify products of incomplete destruction.&nbsp;</li></ul><p>Overall, the combination of Markes thermal desorption technology with the Thermo Scientific TSQ 9610 Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS provides a practical, selective, and robust analytical approach for laboratories implementing EPA OTM-50 for volatile PFAS and VFC monitoring in air.</p><h3><strong>4. Waters Corporation: Analysis of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Flame Retardants in Environmental Matrices Using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization GC-MS/MS</strong></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/pdf/720009524_en_58a948f96a.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><h4><strong>Benefits&nbsp;</strong></h4><ul><li>The performance of atmospheric pressure gas chromatography (APGC ™) on Xevo™ TQ Absolute Mass Spectrometer for the analysis of PBDEs is equal-to or better-than traditional analysis using electron impact magnetic sector making it well suited for use in the most challenging regulatory and standard methods.</li><li>The ability of APGC to tolerate high carrier gas flow helps improve method performance for the most challenging members of this class inlcuding BDE 209 which reduces the need for maintenance and reanalysis of samples.</li><li>Operator training is reduced to weeks from months through conversion of the method from a magnetic sector to tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer.</li><li>Use of a single, inexpensive, readily available gas for chromatographic separation, ionization and MS/MS fragmentation provides a simpler, more sustainable system.</li></ul><p>With the 2001 signing of the Stockholm Convention, the stage was set for global harmonization of efforts to monitor for POPs in the environment.1 By 2004, when countries began implementing the convention, measures aimed at reducing or eliminating intentional and unintentional release of POPs into the environment were supported by annexes that defined the different chemical classes of highest interest which included PBDEs. To date, 185 states plus the European Union have joined in this effort which includes requirements for monitoring for POPs in multiple environmental matrices. Because the implications of unintentional or intentional noncompliance may be subject to enforcement action, high confidence data is needed to support surveillance and reporting efforts. Furthermore, high sensitivity analysis is required due to the possibility of steadily increasing trace levels of PBDEs across years of time through transport in the environment that tends to increase concentrations of persistent organic pollutants such as these in cooler Arctic regions of the globe through the grasshopper effect.2 These requirements initially led to the development of gas chromatography electron ionization high resolution magnetic sector based analytical methods. The performance of EI GC-HRMS in the hands of a well-trained operator and a lab with rigorous quality control procedures has proven to provide the sensitivity and specificity required of the forensic data used in legal actions, for compliance reporting and for providing the greatest protection to populations and the environment.&nbsp;</p><p>However, GC-HRMS has several limitations, including extensive education and training requirements, slow acquisition speeds, and significant laboratory space demands. In contrast, more modern techniques such as tandem quadrupole (TQ) mass spectrometry (MS/MS) offer broad improvements in these areas. Additionally, limitations imposed by EI such as frequent source maintenance and shortcomings caused by carrier gases other than helium hamper this time-honored technique. The more recent combination of APCI with TQ has demonstrated promise in overcoming these limitations while providing data of equivalent confidence to EI GCHRMS.&nbsp;</p><p>After having been deployed in many labs, GC-APCI has continued to contribute to the study of PBDEs in multiple matrices and applications. An evaluation of the first generation of GC-APCI MS/MS, analyzing PBDEs in marine and food samples, reported higher response for higher brominated (Br8-10) congeners than GC-EI-HRMS.3 Later work reported GC-APCI MS/MS LODs comparable or better than EI MS/MS for plasma extracts.4 Recent work reported on the use of GC-APCI HRMS (QTof) as part of the continuation of a 20 year study analyzing aquatic organisms to evaluate environmental PBDE trends.5 In this work, 24 PBDEs plus hexabromobiphenyl were analyzed on a XevoTM TQ Absolute Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer using the APGC ionization source.</p><h4><strong>Experimental</strong></h4><ul><li><strong>GC system: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=8890"><strong>8890 (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)&nbsp;</strong></a></li><li><strong>Column: </strong>Rtx®-1614, 15 m x 0.25 mm ID x 0.10 µm film (Restek Corporation)</li><li><strong>MS system: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/554"><strong>Xevo TQ Absolute Mass Spectrometer</strong></a></li><li><strong>Software: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/1544"><strong>waters_connect™</strong></a> for Quantitation Software</li></ul><h4><strong>Conclusions&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>An all-nitrogen configuration for APGC on Xevo TQ Absolute Mass Spectrometer was successfully applied to the analysis of PBDEs in environmental matrices by adapting a reference method previously used on magnetic sector EI GC-HRMS. All performance criteria were equal-to or better-than those typically achieved by magnetic sector which demonstrates feasibility of GC-APCI MS/MS as an alternative for the most challenging regulatory and standard analytical methods. Furthermore, the change from a vacuum source to the atmospheric ionization source makes the use of high nitrogen carrier gas flow practical which has advantages for operating cost versus helium while achieving similar chromatographic separation and sensitivity. The move to tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry from high resolution mass spectrometry updates the method for improved performance measures such as higher acquisition speeds and high specificity MS/MS while also requiring reduced training time and expertise as compared with magnetic sectors.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></section>

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 35, 2026

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News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 35, 2026