Combining elemental analysis and molecular techniques to characterize Ancient Egyptian mummification balms

Microplastics have emerged as one of the most widely discussed environmental contaminants of our time. Regardless of where we live, daily exposure to microplastics has become virtually unavoidable—these tiny plastic particles are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the environments we inhabit. As researchers work to better understand the sources, transport pathways, and impacts of microplastics, the demand for reliable microplastic analysis methods continues to grow.While techniques such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy have become standard tools for identifying microplastics, their utility is limited for smaller particles (i.e. nanoplastics) and in complex matrices. More advanced microplastic analysis methods can provide a deeper understanding of what these particles contain and how they may change over time in the environment.<div><h3>The Limits of Spectroscopic Microplastic Analysis Methods</h3>Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy are widely used microplastic analysis methods because they can identify polymer types by measuring how electromagnetic radiation interacts with a material. These techniques are valuable for determining whether a particle is polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or another common plastic. For many studies, this information is sufficient to confirm the presence of microplastics, especially in clean samples with sufficient microplastic density.However, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.leco.com/application/environmental/">environmental samples</a> are rarely clean and compositionally simple. Microplastic particles can become weathered and obscured by other materials in the environment, making their accurate identification with spectroscopy difficult. Additionally, if researchers want to understand what additives, degradation products, or pollutants are associated with the plastic, particle identification alone is not enough. Thus, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy methods alone struggle to thoroughly characterize these complex chemical components, particularly in challenging environmental matrices. As questions surrounding microplastic exposure become increasingly important, researchers require analytical techniques capable of examining the chemistry of a sample in greater detail, not simply confirming the presence of the physical particle itself.</div><div><h3>Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis GCxGC-TOFMS For Deeper Microplastic Analysis</h3>Thermal Desorption (TD) and Pyrolysis (Py) coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.leco.com/core-analysis/gc-and-gc-ms/">GCxGC-TOFMS</a>) offer a powerful alternative for investigating nano- and microplastics in complex samples. These techniques provide complementary information about sample composition.&nbsp;Thermal desorption releases volatile and adsorbed compounds, including environmental contaminants, degradation products, and VOCs associated with microplastic particles. This can reveal important information about chemicals present within or on the plastic.Pyrolysis thermally deconstructs the polymeric material, breaking it into GC-amenable characteristic degradation compounds. These compounds act as chemical markers that can be used to identify the various polymers present. When analyzing complex or heavily weathered microplastics that may be difficult to characterize using traditional spectroscopic techniques, pyrolysis is particularly advantageous.The most significant benefit comes from pairing these techniques with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography. Environmental samples often contain hundreds or even thousands of compounds that coelute in 1D GC-MS, making it difficult or impossible to identify each compound. GCxGC provides significantly greater separation capability, helping analysts distinguish important polymer markers from background matrix components. This enhanced separation improves the mass spectrometer’s ability to identify characteristic polymer pyrolysis products, even in highly complex environmental samples. As a result, researchers can detect and identify challenging microplastics without the extensive purification steps often required by other analytical workflows.Another unique advantage of this approach is that thermal desorption and pyrolysis can be used in series on the same sample. Together, they create a more complete chemical profile of the sample.</div><div><h3>A Powerful Microplastics Analysis Workflow for Deeper Insight into the Effects on Our Environment</h3>FTIR and Raman spectroscopy remain valuable tools for rapid screening and flagging samples containing microplastic particles. However, by combining thermal desorption, pyrolysis, and GCxGC-TOFMS, analysts can obtain a much more comprehensive view of plastics in their samples and their environmental implications. As environmental research continues to advance and concerns surrounding microplastic contamination grow, researchers will increasingly require information that extends beyond answering the question,&nbsp;“What plastic is present?”&nbsp;&nbsp;Ultimately, this deeper level of characterization can provide new insights into the environmental fate of microplastics and help scientists better understand their potential impacts on ecosystems and human exposure.</div>

Surpassing the Limits of Traditional Microplastic Analysis Methods with Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis GCxGC-TOFMS

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 39, 2026

Article

Application

Environment

Scientific article

Science and research

Poster

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

In 1936, the Laboratory Equipment Company introduced the first rapid carbon determinator for the American iron and steel industry.  Today, almost 80 years later, LECO is recognized globally as a leader in the development of high-quality analytical instrumentation, mass spectrometers, comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography, metallography & optical equipment as well as consumables.

LECO

Separation Science

Biotage

Agilent Technologies

Technology Networks

GERSTEL

Restek Corporation

C&EN

Shimadzu Corporation

Waters Corporation

The second edition of this online symposium will provide industry and academic scientists with the opportunity to hear from experts within the field. Focus will be given to the safety, authenticity and quality of food and beverages as well as the future of food products such as meat substitutes and alternative proteins.
<h3>This online symposium will cover:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Innovations in food and beverage analysis</li>
<li>Analytical techniques and methodologies</li>
<li>Future food</li>
<li>Contamination identification and control</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jordi Saldo Periago, PhD (Associate Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Manuel Castillo Zambudio, PhD (Professor, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Derek Mattern, PhD (Senior Product Specialist, PerkinElmer)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Nicholas Birse, PhD (Research Fellow, Queen’s University, Belfast)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lei Tian, PhD (Project Lead, McGill University)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Brian Matlock (Senior Applications Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Daniel McMillan (Senior Market Development Manager, SCIEX)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Sophie Letcher (PhD Candidate, Tufts University)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lovedeep Kaur, PhD (Senior Research Officer, Massey University)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Trevor Morones (Founder, Co-CEO, Control Point)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Noud van der Borg (Business Development Manager, Bruker)
</blockquote>

Technology Networks: Advances in Food & Beverage Analysis 2022

Advances in Food & Beverage Analysis 2022

The second edition of this online symposium will provide industry and academic scientists with the opportunity to hear from experts within the field. 

Whether you are new to the practice of gas chromatography, or would like a refresher, the installation and care of your GC column is of the utmost importance.
Join us as we discuss proper column installation and handling for all Agilent GCs including the Intuvo 9000. We will also address the common modes of column degradation and some of the misconceptions that people have concerning column degradation. Lastly, we will discuss ways that you can protect and maintain your column’s performance and extend its lifetime while minimizing instrument downtime.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mark Sinnott (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Mark Sinnott works for Agilent Technologies as a Technical Support Engineer in the Consumables and Supplies Division (CSD) at the capillary column manufacturing facility (the “J&amp;W Scientific” location). In his position at Agilent, Mark performs technical support and applications assistance to gas chromatographers worldwide. He has more than 22 years of experience in gas chromatography, including environmental analysis of compounds in air, soil and water matrices, including dissolved gas analysis for the electrical industry. Mark holds a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from California State University, Sacramento, and currently resides in Sacramento.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ryan Birney (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In Ryan’s current role at Agilent, he provides application assistance and technical support for GC and Spectroscopy. He has been supporting Agilent in technical and sales roles for the past seven years. Ryan came to Agilent from industry, and has an BS degree in Biochemistry.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Back to the Basics: Installation, Care, and Maintenance of GC Columns

Back to the Basics: Installation, Care, and Maintenance of GC Columns

Join us as we discuss proper column installation and handling for all Agilent GCs including the Intuvo 9000.

Basics: Installation, Care, and Maintenance of GC Columns

GERSTEL: Analysis of Solid Samples using Thermal Desorption and Dynamic Headspace

Analysis of Solid Samples using Thermal Desorption and Dynamic Headspace

Join our Analytical Services Manager, Jack Stuff, Ph.D., for his upcoming webinar.

Solid Samples using Thermal Desorption and Dynamic Headspace

Join us for a live webinar on US EPA Method 608.3 - Modern Sample Preparation Solution for Wastewater Labs.
US EPA Method 608 is a dual column method specifying an electrochemical detector (ECD) for analysis. The latest method revision, 608.3 specifically allows disk-based solid-phase extraction (SPE) to be used instead of liquid-liquid extraction.
This webinar provides specifics on establishing a successful 608.3 extraction protocol as well as tips for overcoming potential problems encountered by environmental laboratories.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Michael Ebitson (Director of Applications and Customer Support)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Michael is based in Salem NH where he supports Pre and Post sales workflow solutions and products for his customers. Michael enjoys working closely with customers using his knowledge and experience to assist them in overcoming their laboratory challenges and workflow hurdles. Michael has been practicing analytical chemistry for over 23 years. With his environmental biology and chemistry education coupled with his extensive experience he has developed and supported new and existing workflow solutions and products for customers in markets such as Pharmaceutical, Agriculture, Vitamins/Supplements and Environmental Testing. 
</blockquote>

Biotage: EPA 608.3: Modern Sample Prep Solution for Wastewater Labs

EPA 608.3: Modern Sample Prep Solution for Wastewater Labs

Specifics on establishing a successful 608.3 extraction protocol as well as tips for overcoming potential problems encountered by environmental laboratories.

Separation Science, in collaboration with Agilent and Valisure, offers a presentation that describes the identification of benzene in a variety of consumer products and how Valisure provides independent quality assurance throughout the supply chain.
In late 2020, Valisure expanded its testing capabilities to include analysis for benzene and has since announced its detections of the carcinogen in multiple consumer products, including hand sanitizers, sunscreens, and body sprays, prompting several global recalls.
Valisure increasingly works directly with major stakeholders in healthcare, including purchasers and manufacturers of drug and consumer healthcare products, to infuse independent quality assurance throughout the supply chain.
<h3>By attending this webinar you will:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Learn about the analysis of benzene in a variety of consumer products including hand sanitizers, sunscreens and body sprays.
</li>
<li>Understand the current regulatory environment regarding benzene and actions taken by industry.
</li>
<li>Discover strategies for incorporating independent analysis and adding resilience to supply chains.
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kaury Kucera (Chief Scientific Officer, Valisure)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Kaury Kucera is a pharmaceutical biochemist with degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from the University of Chicago and Yale University. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Prior to joining Valisure, Dr. Kucera led a large-scale and multi-year effort by Yale University aimed at discovering new organic compounds from the Amazon rainforest; in that context, Dr. Kucera oversaw the development of hundreds of unique assays.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: David Light (Chief Executive Officer, Valisure)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
David Light is a biotech entrepreneur and scientist with over 15 years of broad experience in the field. A graduate of Yale University, David studied molecular biology and has worked in various scientific and business roles at start-ups like Synthetic Genomics, Ion Torrent, and Valisure.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
As Founder and CEO of Valisure, an independent laboratory and Partner For Quality that checks and certifies the chemical composition of medications and healthcare products before they reach consumers, David helped fund and invent the core technology and led its entry and impact into the market.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/chezbeate: Valisure’s Identification of Benzene as a Pervasive Contaminant in the Consumer Products Industry

Valisure’s Identification of Benzene as a Pervasive Contaminant in the Consumer Products Industry

Presentation describes the identification of benzene in a variety of consumer products and how Valisure provides independent quality assurance.

Benzene as a Pervasive Contaminant in the Consumer Products

A sustainable circular industrial society can only be achieved by recycling all raw materials used in a product at the end of its life.
 High-pressure thermogravimetry is an analytical method for developing, parameter optimization and scaling of pyrolysis and gasification of organic materials. These processes are used to break down an end-of-life product into its molecular components. Depending on the process parameters, various hydrocarbon-containing synthesis gases are produced. These are fed back into the chemical value chain as raw materials and can be used for virgin polymer production. Learn how high-pressure thermogravimetry enables the development of chemical recycling processes on the laboratory scale under real process conditions yielding results which can be directly transferred to industrial scale.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Frieder Dreisbach, Ph.D. (Director of Product Management, TA Instruments)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Frieder Dreisbach is Director of Product Management at Waters TA Instruments division in Germany. Frieder obtained his mechanical engineering doctoral degree in thermodynamics. After his graduation he worked for 18 years with a German manufacturer of specialized analytical instruments for material data measurements under extreme conditions. After the acquisition of that company by Waters he joined their product management team. His research interests are application of analytical technologies in chemical engineering for gas-solid reactions under high pressures and temperatures involving supercritical fluids. Frieder is member of two working groups of DECHEMA (German society for chemical engineering and biotechnology) and appointed fellow of the International Adsorption Society. He authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and filed patents about innovations in analytical technology.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: High-Pressure TGA as Novel Analytical Method Enabling Closed Material Cycles Through Chemical Recycling of Polymers

High-Pressure TGA as Novel Analytical Method Enabling Closed Material Cycles Through Chemical Recycling of Polymers

High-pressure thermogravimetry is an analytical method for developing, parameter optimization and scaling of pyrolysis and gasification of organic materials.

High-Pressure TGA as Novel Analytical Method for Polymers

Consumer products are complex mixtures that rely on careful formulations and precision chemistry to deliver the desired properties. These properties can be chemical, such as the peroxide content of an oxidizer, physical, such as polymer viscosity or fungible, such as the reserve acidity of a mixture. Measuring these and other types of properties typically requires a fleet of instrumentation and is often limited to raw material input and final product testing. These testing throughput limits place a high burden on the analytical lab, making product improvement difficult. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is a laboratory tool that can relieve the throughput limitation and be deployed to multiple products and problems at the same time.
Register for this webinar to hear Alex Mattingly, Product Specialist at Chemlink Laboratories, explain how he uses NIR to address manufacturing challenges and increase production efficiency. He will show how he implemented NIR and developed the analytical methods to replace complex wet-chemical assays. Elena Hagemann, Metrohm USA Spectroscopy Applications Scientist, will give an overview of NIR spectroscopy and explain how the fundamentals of this technique make it well-suited for formulated products.
Join these experts after the presentation and get your specific questions answered during the live Q&amp;A.
<h5>Key Learning Objectives:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Discover how NIR gives quicker results and better response time than other analytical technologies </li>
<li>Gain understanding on how NIR can analyze pH and acidity of buffer systems </li>
<li>Understand how viscosity and molecular weight of PEGs can easily be determined using NIR</li>
<li>Learn how NIR method development is as simple as linking spectral information of representative samples</li>
</ul>
<h5>Who Should Attend:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Those in the consumer products industry, both specialty chemical and final product manufacturers looking to increase production quality and efficiency </li>
<li>Production and QA managers of all industries seeking solutions to get actionable data fasters </li>
<li>Product development chemists seeking to design products for quality and manufacturability</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Alex Mattingly (Product Specialist, Chemlink)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Elena Hagemann (Applications Specialist, Metrohm USA)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Melissa O&#39;Meara (Forensic Science Consultant, C&amp;EN Media Group)
</blockquote>

C&EN: Slashing Inefficiencies in Consumer Product Manufacturing with NIR Spectroscopy

Slashing Inefficiencies in Consumer Product Manufacturing with NIR Spectroscopy

Alex Mattingly from Chemlink Laboratories will show how he implemented NIR and developed the analytical methods to replace complex wet-chemical assays.

Consumer Product Manufacturing with NIR Spectroscopy

In Gas chromatography 90% of the trouble experienced happens in the injection system.
In this troubleshooting session we will discuss the purpose and impact of the critical parts and setup used in split and splitless injection and how it impacts your results.
We will discuss installation, peak shape, contamination sources for sample and system, carrier gas, maintenance and life time using practical examples.

Restek: GC Troubleshooting: what everybody practicing GC should know

GC Troubleshooting: what everybody practicing GC should know

We will discuss installation, peak shape, contamination sources for sample and system, carrier gas, maintenance and life time using practical examples.

Effective December 2022, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Chapter 621 Chromatography changes become valid. Is your organization prepared to navigate these changes with current and new methods? How can solutions in Empower Software Solutions help you manage these changes?
<h5>In this webinar our experts will take you through:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Updates to key formulas</li>
<li>New USP guidance for signal-to-noise ratio</li>
<li>How these changes may impact your organization</li>
</ul>
Please join us as we share how Empower Software Solutions provides what you need to elevate your methods today and tomorrow.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Neil J. Lander (Principal Product Manager, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Neil has worked for Waters Corporation since 1994 and has held a variety of positions including Technical Support Specialist, Technical Trainer, Manager Customer Education and currently, Principal Marketing Manager focusing on Informatics solutions. He provides internal support for Empower Chromatography Data System and is focused on developing laboratory software solutions that help organizations achieve their scientific and operational objectives. Prior to joining Waters, he was an analytical chemist where he gained experience in both the cosmetics and specialty chemical industries.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lauren Wood (Customer Success Product Owner, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Lauren is the Empower Customer Success Manager and is an Empower subject matter expert (SME). Lauren’s concentration is customer success through focus on the support process and defect resolution process for issues pertaining to Empower and/or 3rd party instrument drivers. Lauren liaises between customers and Marketing, Support, Engineering and CXKM to understand impact and to work with internal teams to prioritize, document, communicate, and resolve software issues. Lauren’s previous roles at Waters during her 30-year tenure have included phone support in Technical Service, Empower training in Customer Education, and Empower product management.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Keeping your lab current: Leveraging Empower Software Solutions to Manage Upcoming USP Chapter 621 changes

Keeping your lab current: Leveraging Empower Software Solutions to Manage Upcoming USP Chapter 621 changes

How can solutions in Empower Software Solutions help you manage USP Chapter 621 Chromatography changes?

Empower Software for Upcoming USP Chapter 621 changes

Nitrosamine compounds are classified as probable human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Ever since the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notification in June 2018 about levels of these impurities in pharmaceutical API, they have been a reason of continuous discussion globally for analytical scientist, patients and regulators.
After June 2018, the number of recalls and 483’s have been on a rise for not only angiostenin II receptor blockers (-ARB, also called as sartans) but also for other products like Ranitidine, Metformin etc. FDA, European Medicine Agency (EMA) and International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) have constantly set and update the guidelines in measuring impurities in pharmaceutical products. Holistic solution to measurement of nitrosamines need both GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS technologies.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Mrunal Jaywant (Senior Director – R &amp; D, USP India)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Pravin Makwana (General Manager - QC, J.B.Chemicals &amp; Pharmaceuticals Ltd.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Nilesh Dhamorikar (Director , QbD Research and Development Lab Pvt Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dheeraj Handique (Deputy Manager-CSC, Shimadzu Analytical (India) Pvt. Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dheeraj Handique is working as Deputy Manager-CSC at Shimadzu Analytical (India) Pvt. Ltd. since 2008. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Analytical Chemistry from Bombay Institute of Technology, Mumbai, with total experience of 17 years in analytical field industries.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
At Shimadzu, his role involves pre-sales and post-sales application support to pharma, chemical, food safety and flavor and fragrance industry customers pertaining to trouble shooting, tech transfer, method development and validation. His key areas are to suggest complete system configuration with total solution related to GC, GCMS/MS instruments to customers. To his credit he has around 30 posters published in international conferences.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
His expertise lies in analysis of drug substances and products, various food matrices, flavor and fragrance matrices with cutting edge technology like GCMS/GCMSMS/HS/TD from Shimadzu with hands on experience on critical sample preparation steps involved. He delivers lectures on Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, headspace and thermal desorption techniques at various national conferences.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Also, he has been very actively involved in the performance evaluation of various chromatographic and advanced technologies available with Shimadzu like GC, GCMS, GCMSMS, HS, TD etc.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Shailendra Rane (Ph.D.) (Deputy Manager-CSC, Shimadzu Analytical (India) Pvt. Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Shailendra Rane is Ph.D. in chemistry from Mumbai university and currently working with Shimadzu Analytical (India) Pvt. Ltd. as Deputy Manager CSC since 2008. At Shimadzu, his role involves pre- and post-sales application support to pharma, food safety and bio-similar customers pertaining to trouble shooting, tech transfer, method development and validation. To his credit he has 10 publications in various international journals of repute and around 35 posters he published in national and international conferences.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
His expertise lies in analysis of drug substances and products, various food matrices and bio-molecules with cutting edge technology like LCMS/LCMSMS from Shimadzu with hands on experience on critical sample preparation steps involved. He delivers lectures on liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry at various national conferences. Also, he has been very actively involved in the performance evaluation of various chromatographic and advanced technologies available with Shimadzu like SFC, MALDI-ToF etc.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rashi Kochhar Rebello (Manager, Marketing Communications, Shimadzu (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rashi has been part of Shimadzu for 13 years now. She has worked extensively with Chromatographic and MS solutions in different capacities. Her expertise lies in supporting workflows for different markets and segments including Biopharma, Pharma and Food. With this background, her current role is to design communication packages for analytical solutions in Shimadzu Asia Pacific.
</blockquote>

Shimadzu: Digital Classroom: Confidently Analyse Nitrosamine Impurities by GC-MS/MS & LC-MS/MS

Confidently Analyse Nitrosamine Impurities by GC-MS/MS & LC-MS/MS

Holistic solution to measurement of nitrosamines need both GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS technologies.