UCTP-REFINE Lab is a research group at the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague focused on sustainable waste valorization, chemical recycling, and the production of alternative feedstocks for chemicals and fuels. The team combines chemical engineering, catalysis, and advanced analytical chemistry to study the thermal and catalytic conversion of complex waste streams, particularly plastics, tires, and biomass, including pyrolysis and upgrading of resulting oils. A strong emphasis is placed on comprehensive characterization of feedstocks, intermediates, and products to link composition and process conditions with product quality and support the development of circular, resource-efficient technologies.<h3>PhD position Chemometric processing of GC×GC data from alternative fuels and oils produced via thermochemical conversion of biomass and plastics</h3><h4>Expected experience:</h4><ul><li>Master's degree in chemistry or chemical engineering</li><li>Strong background in analytical chemistry and chemistry in general; a background in chemical engineering is beneficial</li><li>Experience with chromatography is mandatory.</li><li>Experience with chemometric data processing (e.g. in Python) and GC×GC is not required but is beneficial.</li><li>Top-level English, both spoken and written, ideally proven by a certificate.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/refine_lab_equipment_33ff27095e.jpg" alt="UCTP-REFINE-lab: Process Gas Chromatograph with Electrolyzer" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_refine_lab_equipment_33ff27095e.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="500" height="375"><h4>Expected work:</h4><ul><li>Close collaboration with all involved colleagues and relevant partners from the project consortium.</li><li>GC×GC analysis of complex samples utilizing FID, MS and NCD detectors.</li><li>The focus will be on alternative fuels and oils from thermochemical depolymerisation of biomass and plastics, as well as the samples after hydrotreating.</li><li>Advanced GC×GC data processing using chemometrics for prediction model development.</li><li>Participation also in sample production.</li><li>Contribution to project reports, publications, and conference presentations.</li></ul><h4>What we offer:</h4><ul><li>A young but fast-growing Team with strong international collaborations with academia and industry.</li><li>Top-level facilities and expertise in hydrotreating and liquid product analysis.</li><li>Work on a prospective topic in close collaboration with top EU companies as part of a demonstration EU project.</li><li>Competitive income, which level depends entirely on your activity and productivity.</li></ul>Questions? Feel free to contact our students Adham (yaghia@vscht.cz) or Vít (vyskocit@vscht.cz).<ul><li>Preferred start: early 2027</li><li>Application deadline: 30th October 2026</li><li>Funding: Fully funded PhD position as part of an upcoming HE project.</li></ul>If you are interested and meet the criteria, apply through the application form below.<blockquote><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.uctp-refine-lab.com/joining-our-team-form-gcxgc">Apply through this form</a></blockquote>

PhD position Chemometric processing of GC×GC data from alternative fuels and oils

Compositional and Metabolomic Characterization of Major On-Farm Side Streams and Derived Products of Industrial Fine-Flavor Cocoa Processing

The integrity of sport depends on the ability to detect prohibited substances accurately, reliably and with confidence. However, as doping strategies become increasingly sophisticated, the analytical demands placed on anti-doping laboratories continue to evolve.Today’s laboratories must do more than test for a static list of known compounds. They need broad analytical strategies capable of addressing hundreds of substances across multiple chemical classes, identifying emerging threats and supporting defensible confirmation and reporting of adverse analytical findings. For more than 25 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific has worked globally with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-accredited laboratories to advance the analytical science supporting modern anti-doping programs.<h3>Anti-doping testing is a moving target</h3>The World Anti-Doping Agency publishes an annually updated Prohibited List that provides a global framework for testing programs. Yet the list is non-exhaustive, meaning laboratories may also need to detect structurally related compounds and substances across several categories, with similar chemical structure and biological activity. That creates a significant analytical challenge. Anti-doping laboratories must be prepared to monitor a broad range of compounds while maintaining the sensitivity, specificity, and confidence required for both initial testing and confirmation. At the same time, the landscape continues to change. Emerging substances, rapidly expanding doping strategies and new approaches to sample collection and analysis are creating multiple considerations for anti-doping laboratories to consider. Dried blood spots (DBS), for example, have gained attention as a complementary approach to traditional urine and venous blood collection supporting applications such as detecting steroid esters and monitoring peptides. High-resolution mass spectrometry is also enabling laboratories to consider both targeted analysis and retrospective interrogation of previously acquired data as scientific knowledge and regulations evolve.<h3>From screening to confident confirmation</h3>No single analytical technique can address every anti-doping challenge.With respect to chemical analysis of toxicologically relevant compounds, modern doping control laboratories employ complementary technologies—including liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS)—depending on the compounds and analytical questions involved.For initial testing, laboratories may need to efficiently screen biological samples for numerous prohibited substances spanning categories such as steroids, stimulants, metabolic modulators, diuretics, narcotics, cannabinoids and peptides.When &nbsp;an initial Testing Procedure produces a result requiring confirmation, laboratories need analytical approaches capable of supporting confident confirmation.This combination of broad screening and targeted confirmation has made mass spectrometry central to modern anti-doping science.<h3>Expanding possibilities with LC-MS</h3>High-resolution accurate-mass mass spectrometry can provide precise mass measurements while supporting comprehensive screening of known and suspected substances, while preserving information-rich data that can support investigation of emerging or previously untargeted compounds.An important advantage of high-resolution mass spectrometry is the ability to revisit previously acquired data. As new substances, metabolites or other analytical targets are identified, laboratories can potentially re-process previously acquired full scan data (and any corresponding MSn experiment) without reanalyzing the original sample. This strategy is currently used by laboratories to support global re-testing programs.&nbsp; Triple quadrupole <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/products?category=20&amp;manufacturerItems=3">LC-MS</a> can complement these workflows by supporting sensitive, targeted quantitation and confirmation of prohibited substances.Together, these approaches provide laboratories the flexibility needed to address today’s testing requirements while giving laboratories greater flexibility to respond to emerging analytical challenges.<h3>The continuing role of GC-MS/MS</h3>Gas chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry remains an important technology in anti-doing laboratories, particularly for urinary steroid profiling and the screening and confirmation of anabolic- &nbsp;androgenic steroids and other GC-amenable prohibited substances.GC-MS/MS can support both screening and confirmation while providing the sensitivity, selectivity and dymanic range required for screening and confirmatory analysis.The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products/485">Thermo Scientific TSQ 9610 Triple Quadrupole GC-MS</a> is designed to maximize sample throughput, helping laboratories address the demands of routine testing while maintaining analytical performance across a wide dynamic range. &nbsp;The TSQ 9610 incorporates NeverVent technology, designed to increase instrument uptime by reducing the disruption associated with routine source maintenance.As anti-doping workflows evolve, bridging screening and confirmation together within robust analytical strategies can help laboratories respond efficiently to increasingly complex testing requirements.<h3>When identifying a steroid isn’t enough</h3>In some anti-doping investigations, simply detecting a compound does not provide the complete answer.Testosterone, for example, can be produced naturally by the body or administered externally as an anabolic steroid. In cases where laboratories need to distinguish between endogenous and exogenous sources, isotope ratio mass spectrometry can provide another layer of information.GC-IRMS can help laboratories determine whether selected urinary steroids are consistent with an endogenous or exogenous origin by comparing carbon isotope ratios.The result is an analytical toolkit in which different technologies answer different questions—from broad screening and sensitive confirmation to determining the origin of a compound.<h3>Putting advanced workflows into practice</h3>Technology is only part of the equation. Real-world anti-doping laboratories also need to manage high sample volumes, turnaround expectations and continually changing analytical requirements.At Laboratoire Anti-Dopage Français (LADF), Director Dr. Magnus Ericsson and his team use advanced mass spectrometry workflows to support anti-doping testing.According to Ericsson, integration of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products?category=20&amp;manufacturerItems=3">Thermo Scientific TSQ</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products?category=37&amp;manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=vanquish">Vanquish systems</a> has helped enhance efficiency and turnaround while supporting more than 40,000 sample analyses since 2023.Experiences like these demonstrate how integrated analytical workflows can help laboratories translate advances in mass spectrometry into routine anti-doping operations.<h3>Preparing for what comes next</h3>Anti-doping science has advanced dramatically—from early testing approaches to today’s sophisticated, — mass spectrometry technologies; including but not limited to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/products?category=20&amp;manufacturerItems=3">GC-MS/MS</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/lcms/products?category=20&amp;manufacturerItems=3">LC-MS/MS</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/all/products?category=22&amp;manufacturerItems=3">high-resolution accurate-mass MS</a> and<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://labrulez.com/en-us/gcms/products?category=351&amp;manufacturerItems=3"> isotope ratio MS</a> workflows.But the science cannot stand still.Emerging compounds, evolving regulations and increasingly sophisticated doping strategies mean laboratories must continually evaluate how they manage and process samples and then screen, identify, quantify and confirm prohibited substances. The goal remains constant: provide accurate, high-quality analytical results that help protect the integrity of competition.Explore the technologies, workflows and expert perspectives shaping the next generation of anti-doping testing in our comprehensive eBook, Upholding the Integrity of Sport.<blockquote><h5><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://documents.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CMD/brochures/eb-004467-cl-cmd-ms-antidoping-eb004467-na-en.pdf">Download the anti-doping eBook</a></h5></blockquote>Visit us on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a>&nbsp;#AntiDoping #MassSpectrometry #SportsIntegrity #WADA

Advancing Anti-Doping Science: Analytical Strategies for the Evolving Fight Against Doping

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UCTP-REFINE Lab is a research group at the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague focused on sustainable waste valorization, chemical recycling, and the production of alternative feedstocks for chemicals and fuels. 

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Wasson Dynamic Blender for GC (DB302)

The Dynamic Blender is a portable gas blending device that dilutes a sample or a certified standard with a matrix gas of choice.

Gas chromatography (GC) analyses often include trace level detection of components requiring samples or standards at low concentrations. Some analytes are expensive or difficult to purchase at low levels due to reactivity, adsorption, or high molecular weight. Analyses may also cover a wide concentration range, requiring multi-point calibration.
The Wasson-ECE Dynamic Blender (DB302) provides a simple solution to these calibration needs. The Dynamic Blender is a portable gas blending device that dilutes a sample or a certified standard with a matrix gas of choice. One certified standard with concentrations at the upper limit of the desired calibration curve can be diluted to a lower level (&gt;2 orders of magnitude lower) to create a full calibration curve.
An inert flow path and heated bridge eliminate adsorption and condensation problems when blending gas standards that include sulfur, nitrogen, and other reactive compounds.
An on-board flow controller allows the diluent gas flow to be controlled digitally and samples are fed directly to a gas chromatograph. The Dynamic Blender eliminates the need to purchase and store multiple gas cylinders and provides an easy, cost-effective solution for gas phase calibration needs.
<h4>Dynamic Blender Features</h4>
<ul>
<li>Approximately 100 pre-programmed pure diluent gases and mixtures and twenty user configurable diluent mixture slots.
</li>
<li>Maximum Diluent Pressure of 100 psi (leak tested to this pressure)
</li>
<li>Maximum Temperature of 150°C (operation verified at this temp.)
</li>
<li>Mass Flow Controller Range of 10 – 500 cc/min
</li>
<li>7 μm in-line gas filters (treated) are also provided
</li>
<li>Specially passivated tubing for trace reactive compounds (sulfurs, oxygenates, etc.)
</li>
</ul>
*This treatment is not suitable for samples with pH &gt; 8.0, so please notify your sales representative if you have high pH samples.

ARC Polyarc System

A Breakthrough Innovation Revolutionizing GC/FID Technology. The Polyarc System is transforming the way scientists use gas chromatographs with Flame Ionization Detectors.

The Polyarc system has a catalytic microreactor that enhances new and existing gas chromatographs (GCs) with flame ionization detectors (FIDs) by converting all organic compounds to methane molecules prior to their detection by the FID. In doing so, the Polyarc system reduces the need to perform time-consuming calibrations by creating a uniform detector response for truly universal carbon detection.
The Polyarc system gives scientists the capability to determine purity, quantify unknowns, qualify products, investigate, improve development and more in a simple, fast and more economical way that is transforming the industry.
<blockquote>
Available for gas chromatographs (GC) <a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=1&amp;manufacturerItems=10">Agilent</a> 5890, 6890, 7820, 7890, 8890, <a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=1&amp;manufacturerItems=1">Shimadzu</a> 2030, <a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=1&amp;manufacturerItems=3">Thermo Fisher</a>, Varian, Bruker a Scion GC.
</blockquote>
<h3>What is Polyarc?</h3>
The Polyarc is the next evolution of flame ionization detection (FID). The Polyarc converts the FID into a truly universal carbon detector using proprietary catalytic reactions that convert organic molecules to methane immediately prior to detection.
<h3>Why is it important?</h3>
The FID has two main challenges: lack of uniform response and low response to certain compounds. The Polyarc enhances your FID to solve these challenges by giving your FID a uniform response to nearly all organic molecules. The result is more accurate data, improved productivity, lab efficiencies, and the ability to detect more compounds.
<h3>How Does the Polyarc® System Work to Simplify and Improve GC/FID Quantification?</h3>
The Polyarc system has a catalytic microreactor that enhances GC/FIDs by converting all organic compounds to methane molecules prior to detection by the FID. The result?
A universal response for ALL organic molecules.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Polyarc_FID_vs_FID_Response_Factors_0f9c958558/ARC-PolyarcFID-vs-FID-Response-Factors.jpg" alt="ARC: Comaprison of Polyarc/FID vs FID Response Factors.jpg"/>
<h3>The Polyarc System Features an Optimized Design and Seamless Integration</h3>
The Polyarc system is the first commercial technology of its kind. The device uses proprietary technologies including novel catalysts, a specially designed 3D-printed micro reactor, and fast seamless integration into existing equipment.
The optimized internal design and catalyst microstructure maintains separation performance and peak shape while increasing sensitivity and enabling accurate quantification without calibration standards.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Optimalizovany_design_a_specialne_navrzeny_3_D_tisteny_mikroreaktor_Polyarc_70ccedc41e/ARC-Optimalizovany-design-a-specialne-navrzeny-3D-tisteny-mikroreaktor-Polyarc.jpg" alt="ARC: Specially designed 3D-printed micro reactor Polyarc"/>
<h3>Perform Cutting-Edge Chromatography on Any Organic Compound with a Polyarc® System</h3>
Realize a greater breadth of analysis with improved detection of compounds previously invisible or with an extremely low sensitivity by gas chromatography using FID only — while reducing the need for time intensive calibration.
The careful selection and robust catalyst design enables the analysis of a wide variety of compounds including a range of heteroatoms, compounds of various sizes, and samples containing common catalytic poisons (e.g., S).
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Analyza_siroke_skaly_sloucenin_pomoci_Polyarc_systemu_3e18241358/ARC-Analyza-siroke-skaly-sloucenin-pomoci-Polyarc-systemu.png" alt="ARC: Polyarc system enables the analysis of a wide variety of compounds"/>
<h3>How Does the Polyarc System Compare to a Methanizer?</h3>
A conventional methanizer converts CO and CO₂ to methane, allowing low level FID detection of CO and CO₂. The significant advantage of the Polyarc system is that it converts all compounds to methane, allowing not only for the detection of CO and CO₂ , but also millions of other organic compounds.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Srovnani_systemu_Polyarc_s_metanizerem_7df16e09c7/ARC-Srovnani-systemu-Polyarc-s-metanizerem.jpg" alt="ARC: Comparison of the Polyarc System with a metanizer"/>

ARC Jetanizer (Methanizer)

The Jetanizer is the easiest and most robust methanizer.

<h3>What is Jetanizer™?</h3>
The Jetanizer is the easiest and most robust methanizer. A methanizer is a chemical reactor that converts carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide to methane to enable sensitive detection by a flame ionization detector (FID) from &lt;20 ppb to 100%!
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Analyza_CO_2_od_1ppm_do_100_s_pouzitim_GC_jetanizeru_FID_9c922be2e9/ARC-Analyza-CO2-od-1ppm-do-100percent-s-pouzitim-GC-jetanizeru-FID.jpg" alt="ARC: CO₂ analysis from 1ppm to 100% with GC/Jetanizer/FID"/>
<h3>Why is it important?</h3>
<h4>Low-level detection of CO and CO₂ is important in:</h4>
<ul>
<li>catalysis </li>
<li>hydrogen (H₂) purity analysis </li>
<li>dissolved gas analysis (DGA)</li>
<li>greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis, </li>
<li>transformer oil gas analysis (TOGA)</li>
<li>ethylene/propylene monomers analysis </li>
<li>safe entry analysis, and more</li>
</ul>
Traditionally, large nickel-catalyst-filled tube methanizers are used, however, they are prone to frequent failures, and they are difficult and time consuming to operate and maintain. 
<blockquote>
Legacy nickel catalyst methanizers take 2-6 hours to install and replace. Jetanizers take &lt;5 minutes.
</blockquote>
ARC’s Jetanizer solves these challenges by improving response, robustness and ease of installation, by incorporating state-of-the-art catalysts into an FID jet. Moreover, the Jetanizer enables low level &lt;1 ppm formaldehyde analysis by GC avoiding the pitfalls of HPLC analysis of formaldehyde.
<blockquote>
For use with these GC models: <a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=1&amp;manufacturerItems=10">Agilent 5890, 6890, 7890, 8890, Intuvo</a>, <a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products?category=1&amp;manufacturerItems=1">Shimadzu 2010, 2030 GC</a>.
</blockquote>
<h3>Benefits over Traditional Methanizers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Lower up-front cost</li>
<li>No extra plumbing: minimize fittings and leaks</li>
<li>No extra heater or controller: utilizes heat from FID</li>
<li>FAST installation: Less than 5 minutes</li>
<li>Ability to be used with formaldehyde</li>
<li>Higher sulfur tolerance</li>
<li>Higher catalytic activity = larger linear dynamic range</li>
<li>Free up space on the GC</li>
<li>No toxic metals: The Jetanizer™ does not contain nickel catalysts</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Kalibrace_analyzy_CO_2_s_pouzitim_GC_jetanizeru_FID_2f0b6171fc/ARC-Kalibrace-analyzy-CO2-s-pouzitim-GC-jetanizeru-FID.jpg" alt="ARC: CO₂ analysis calibration with GC/Jetanizer/FID"/>

ARC Precision Split

ARC’s PrecisionSplit device allows scientists and chromatographers to take advantage of the quantitative power of the Polyarc/FID in combination with the mass identification power of the mass spectrometer, all in the same injection in real time.

<h3>Why does my MS need an FID?</h3>
A mass spectrometer (MS) provides valuable qualitative data, but poses several challenges to accurate quantification. Adding a flame ionization detector (FID) in parallel with the MS gives complementary quantitative carbon concentrations with minimal extra effort or equipment. We believe every MS needs an FID companion for quantitative analysis, especially for non-targeted analysis or tentatively identified compounds where quantification is desired.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Precision_Split_6271ed1240/ARC-Precision-Split.jpg" alt="ARC: Precision Split"/>
<h3>The benefits of a MS/FID split:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Virtually eliminate response factor variability</li>
<li>Quantify accurately (better linearity, more consistent response, fewer calibration errors)</li>
<li>Improve sensitivity for poor ionizers with the FID</li>
<li>Save your source!</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Data</h3>
Response factor (RF) variation in the mass spectrometer (i.e., the relative response of the MS to different chemicals) can lead to significant errors in quantification. Two compounds that have the same response/area in the MS can have concentrations that differ more than 100-fold (see <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0731708520304283">Jordi et al.</a>). 
As you can see below, the Polyarc/FID split can reduce this response factor variation so that accurate quantification of tentatively identified compounds is possible.
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Variance_RF_u_MS_detektoru_8e02773edc/ARC-Variance-RF-u-MS-detektoru.jpg" alt="ARC: RF variation with MS"/>
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ARC_Variance_RF_s_Polyarc_FID_splittrem_ca7def3cb3/ARC-Variance-RF-s-Polyarc-FID-splittrem.jpg" alt="ARC: RF variation with Polyarc/FID split"/>

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Advancing Anti-Doping Science: Analytical Strategies for the Evolving Fight Against Doping

PhD position Chemometric processing of GC×GC data from alternative fuels and oils

Compositional and Metabolomic Characterization of Major On-Farm Side Streams and Derived Products of Industrial Fine-Flavor Cocoa Processing