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

Milestone

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Characterization of geological materials, including elemental composition, chemical speciation, and phase determination, is of primary importance for assessing their natural resources as well as their exploration, beneficiation, and extraction processes for industrial needs.
X-ray techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), have long been essential tools in geological research. Due to the relatively quick and simple sample preparation, XRF has become the technique of choice for the analysis of rocks and minerals. New generations of XRF analyzers also permit analysis of small spots down to 0.5 mm as well as mapping of a selected area of a sample. These new possibilities open up the XRF technique to heterogeneous samples where segregations, defects, or inclusions can now be determined. Coupling these capabilities with standard-less analysis allows quantification of up to 79 elements of the periodic table on selected points or areas of the sample. On the other hand, XRD measurements of crystalline materials in combination with Rietveld refinement is widely recognized as the most powerful method for quantitative crystalline-phase analysis.
Deriving chemical and structural information from the fundamental vibrations of molecular bonds, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy also find many applications in geosciences research, including identification of minerals and their polymorphic forms, differentiation from other organic and inorganic materials, qualitative and quantitative determination of structural incorporated molecules and defects, characterization of thermal maturity, etc.
In this presentation, several real-world geological applications using X-ray and vibrational spectroscopic techniques will be presented. The complementarity of different analytical techniques will also be discussed.
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Presenter: Christopher Shaffer (Business Development Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Chris is the Business Development Manager for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Bulk Element Analysis (BEA) Division (x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence and optical emission spectroscopy). He has been with the BEA business since 2007. After graduating from college, Chris started his career at the Ferro Corporation managing an analytical laboratory, where he first learned the techniques of x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF). Chris left Ferro to join Thermo Fisher Scientific as an XRF applications specialist for North America. In 2011, he moved to Switzerland to become the product manager for the newly launched Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ Perform’X XRF. In 2013, Chris moved back to North America as Latin American business manager for the BEA group and in 2017, he moved to his current position.
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Presenter: Rui Chen (Applications Manager, Spectroscopy, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Dr. Rui Chen obtained his Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Alberta, Canada, followed by an Alberta Ingenuity Postdoctoral fellowship. Rui has extensive experience in a wide range of analytical techniques including chromatography, mass spectrometry, and vibrational spectroscopy. Currently, he is the senior manager of the applications team at Thermo Fisher Scientific supporting vibrational spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence, x-ray diffraction, extrusion, and rheology product lines.
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Thermo Scientific: Geological Applications Using XRF, XRD and Vibrational Spectroscopy

Geological Applications Using XRF, XRD and Vibrational Spectroscopy

Several real-world geological applications using X-ray and vibrational spectroscopic techniques.

Geological Applications Using XRF, XRD

<ul>
<li>Advances in triple quadrupole ICP-MS for environmental analysis
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<li>Maximizing your lab productivity with true high pressure ion chromatography solutions
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<li>Analysis of VOC and GRO in Water using the TriPlus 500 GC-MS Headspace Autosampler
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<li>At the end of the presentations there will be time for you to ask any questions you have using the chat box
</li>
</ul>
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Presenter: Simon Nelms (Regional Marketing Manager, Trace Elemental, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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With the advent of triple quadrupole technology, a new level of interference removal in ICP-MS has been achieved. The implementation of an additional quadrupole before the collision cell of the instrument allows pre-filtering of the ion beam to selectively transmit only the masses of interest, which alleviates the problem of unwanted side interference production in the cell through collisions between other masses in the sample and the cell gas. This pre-filtering capability also allows selective chemical reactions to be conducted in the cell to enhance polyatomic interference removal and, in many cases, solve the problem of isobaric overlap. In this presentation, the latest advances in triple quadrupole ICP-MS technology and how these apply to routine analysis of environmental will be described.
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Presenter: Seif Mohey (Technical Sales Manager Ion Chromatography, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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This presentation summarizes how ion chromatography has evolved over the years into today’s multimode technique suitable for solving analytical problems in all areas of interest. The Reagent-Free Ion Chromatography (RFIC) systems with electrolytic eluent generation make it possible to perform a wide range of ion chromatographic separations using only deionized water as eluent ( Just Add water Technology ). Our top of the range, Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ICS-6000 HPIC™ system is a modular ion chromatograph, configurable as a single or dual channel system equipped with a modern tablet interface and interactive wellness features offering superior column chemistries to maximize productivity and ease of use. This presentation brings out the advantages of using the ICS-6000 in different applications.
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Presenter: Daniela Cavagnino (Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Environmental testing laboratories involved in volatile organics determination in water and soil samples will benefit of the innovative design of theThermo Scientific™ TriPlus™ 500 HS autosampler offering scalable productivity, extended recovery and data quality, at the best cost/value. Gasoline Range Organics (GRO) are highly volatile compounds that can be easily extracted from the matrix without the need for time-consuming sample preparation. These chemicals are often present in the environment, especially in ground water and soil, mainly due to contamination incidents during handling, storing or transporting oil and related products. The TriPlus 500 HS autosampler offers a very efficient extraction of the volatiles, maximizing the sensitivity in shorter cycle times. The coupling with the GC-FID configuration provides a rugged solution for quantitative determination of volatile hydrocarbons at ppb levels, representing a robust analytical tool for routine environmental laboratories.
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Thermo Scientific: Innovations in Environmental Analysis

Innovations in Environmental Analysis

Advances in triple quadrupole ICP-MS for environmental analysis.

Advances in fracking and favorable regulations have driven unprecedented growth in the oil, gas, petrochemical, and polymer industries.
Exploration requires characterization of prospective sources to decide potential investment. Additional analyses determine quality and other attributes that can affect pretreatment or available markets. This talk discusses solutions from simple rheometry to complex high-resolution mass spectrometry available from Thermo Fisher Scientific.
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Presenter: Nina Albrecht (Product Specialist, HR-IRMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Nina is an isotope geochemist with a passion for mass spectrometry. Driven by this fascination, she acquired about 10 years of expertise with GIRMS, ICP-MS, and TIMS. Eventually, she found herself amongst the very first users of the pioneering Thermo Scientific™ Ultra™ HR-IRMS. This background paved the way to her current role in which she supports geoscientists with their development of innovative HR-IRMS applications.
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Presenter: Kirk Chassaniol (Manager, Application Scientists, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Kirk is currently a technical leader in the Ion Chromatography (IC) field support group within the North American Centers of Excellence. Over the last 28 years, he has been involved in IC application and customer support in sales and marketing roles. He has helped with the development of IC methods and standards for chloride and sulfate in ethanol, cations in hydrogen cell feed gas, and combustion IC within the ASTM D02 and D03 Elemental Analysis subcommittee.
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Thermo Scientific: Exploration and Production: Optimizing the Opportunity with Simple Laboratory Tools to State-of-the-Art Analytical Technology

Exploration and Production: Optimizing the Opportunity with Simple Laboratory Tools to State-of-the-Art Analytical Technology

Solutions from simple rheometry to complex high-resolution mass spectrometry available from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Simple Laboratory Tools to State-of-the-Art Technology

Producing wells, gas, and oil need some treatment and characterization before they can move by pipeline, rail, and tanker truck.
Midstream has the vital role of moving raw hydrocarbons to refining and processing. Various regulations, safety considerations, corrosion, and fouling all require critical tests to keep the flow moving. This presentation will cover the broad range of solutions offered by Thermo Fisher Scientific, such as combustion IC, gas chromatography, ion chromatography, ICP-OES, and more. All are designed and implemented to provide reliable, repeatable, automated results.
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Presenter: James Pachlhofer (Implementation Specialist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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With over 40 years’ experience in analytical instrumentation, James is a true veteran! His role at Thermo Fisher Scientific is to ensure the solution sold for an oil, gas, or petrochemical application performs perfectly to the customer&#39;s satisfaction. He is a native of Houston, the home of oil and gas, with a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Houston.
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Thermo Scientific: Moving Crude and Gas from Well to Plants - Solutions for Common Problems and Challenges in the Future for the Midstream

Moving Crude and Gas from Well to Plants - Solutions for Common Problems and Challenges in the Future for the Midstream

Solutions offered by Thermo Fisher Scientific, such as combustion IC, gas chromatography, ion chromatography, ICP-OES, and more.

Moving Crude and Gas from Well to Plants

The refining process is complex and continuous. Converting hundreds of barrels of crude oil per minute into its many products requires a highly integrated process.
Analytical laboratories employ many different tests to ensure process optimization, quality control, and regulatory compliance. Today&#39;s presentation covers many of those tests and the role that gas chromatography plays in keeping crude flowing into products while ensuring productivity, safety and quality.
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Presenter: Josh Howard (Customer Solutions Engineer, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Josh has been with Thermo Fisher Scientific since 2018. He has 15 years of refinery laboratory experience, including 10 years with Marathon Petroleum where he was a refinery GC Chemist in charge of LIMS administration, QC, method development, and equipment maintenance. He has also worked as a GC technical manager for a contract lab and a GC Field Service Engineer.
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Thermo Scientific: Refining Crude into Product - Solutions to Improve Efficiency, Profitability, and Safety and Compliance

Refining Crude into Product - Solutions to Improve Efficiency, Profitability, and Safety and Compliance

Tests and the role that gas chromatography plays in keeping crude flowing into products while ensuring productivity, safety and quality.

Refining Crude into Product - Solutions

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a highly flexible analytical technique that can be applied to a broad range of applications, from incoming raw material inspection to process monitoring.
In this presentation, we will review use cases of NIR, including laboratory measurements of hydroxyl value and content uniformity, as well as implementation of NIR and multivariate analysis for process control and monitoring.
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Presenter: Robert Jones (Senior Application Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Dr. Robert Jones earned degrees in Chemistry from the University of New Mexico and the University of California, Berkeley. After holding several positions as a research scientist, program manager, and project leader, Robert joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in April 2013. As an Applications Scientist, Robert’s primary focus has been on the development of spectroscopic solutions for a broad range of customers and markets.
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Thermo Scientific: Improving Manufacturing Quality and Efficiency via Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Improving Manufacturing Quality and Efficiency via Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Use cases of NIR, including laboratory measurements of hydroxyl value and content uniformity, as well as implementation of NIR.

Improving Manufacturing Quality

Adoption of cloud-based LIMS solutions continues to grow, as laboratories across all industries consider the financial and operational benefits of cloud-based solutions.
For new laboratories implementing a LIMS for the first time, cloud can provide a quick road to go-live with low capital expenditure and minimal resources to run and manage the system. For existing laboratories looking to modernize their LIMS implementation, cloud can help minimize IT costs while providing unmatched scalability. In this session, we’ll explore real-world customer stories of laboratories that selected cloud deployments for their Thermo Scientific™ SampleManager LIMS™ software.
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Presenter: Katie Evans (Senior Product Manager, Digital Science, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Katie Evans is a Senior Product Manager for the Digital Science business at Thermo Fisher Scientific and is located in Altrincham, in the Manchester area of the UK. During her 22 years at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Katie has focused on product management and strategy development of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) software with an emphasis on the needs of laboratories serving regulated markets. Katie received her Master of Science degree from Exeter University, UK.
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Presenter. Jon Webb (Senior Sales Manager, Digital Science, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Jon Webb has been with Thermo Fisher Scientific since 2014. His career has focused on helping global R&amp;D organizations manage their scientific data effectively and his work experience has provided him a deep understanding of the benefits of deploying enterprise software to the cloud. His work at Thermo Fisher Scientific has focused on implementing enterprise software solutions to support complex processes and business objectives across the Oil &amp; Gas industry.
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Thermo Scientific: Software to Drive Your Science - Why Some Oil & Gas Companies are Looking to the Cloud

Software to Drive Your Science - Why Some Oil & Gas Companies are Looking to the Cloud

Real-world customer stories of laboratories that selected cloud deployments for their Thermo Scientific™ SampleManager LIMS™ software.

Software to Drive Your Science

Digital transformation is driven by the ability to better connect all aspects of the laboratory - devices, consumables, workflows, data, and people - to accelerate science and increase laboratory productivity.
Smart instruments and consumables are enabling laboratories to improve instrument and consumable usage, reducing downtime and optimizing the use of laboratory supplies and capacity. Data analytics solutions are connecting workflows and data across different methods and instruments to enable scientists to derive insight from their data and make informed business decisions. To take advantage of these recent advancements and those yet to come, organizations need to connect the laboratory and make data accessible to those who need it.
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Presenter: Trish Meek (Director of Marketing, Digital Science, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Trish Meek has been with Thermo Fisher Scientific for over 20 years focused on enterprise software including Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN), and Chromatography Data Systems (CDS). She is currently the Director of Marketing for the Digital Science business unit.
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Thermo Scientific: Digital Transformation in Process Manufacturing - Increasing Productivity Through Digital Science Solutions

Digital Transformation in Process Manufacturing - Increasing Productivity Through Digital Science Solutions

Digital transformation is driven by the ability to better connect all aspects of the laboratory.

Digital Transformation in Process Manufacturing

Fat determinations in food and feed matrices is a routine analysis for several testing and food processor labs, as it is part of labelling process and QC testing. Nowadays, the process still relies on outdated and matrix-dependent methods which use obsolete and time-consuming technologies. This workshop, live from Milestone Lab, presents a new approach to fat determinations that simplify the lab workflow and increase the productivity. Learn how your laboratory could gain value and see the benefits of whom has already implemented.<h4>Key topics:</h4><ul><li>Fat determination process: conventional vs microwave approach</li><li>One single method for any food matrix</li><li>Complete fat determinations: Total Fat, Crude Fat, FAME</li><li>Real life Case Study: Eurofins Scientific</li></ul><blockquote>Speaker: Roberto Boschini (Product Manager at Milestone)</blockquote>

Milestone: Gain productivity in fat determinations on any matrix

Gain productivity in fat determinations on any matrix

This workshop, live from Milestone Lab, presents a new approach to fat determinations that simplify the lab workflow and increase the productivity.

With throughput capabilities of 24 samples in only 40 minutes, the ETHOS X with fastEX-24 rotor reduces overall analysis costs by increasing productivity. The combination of lower solvent volumes, less maintenance need and the use of inexpensive disposable glass vials enhances your environmental lab's competitiveness and profitability. In this webinar, you will learn five (5) tips to reduce your analysis costs in organic pollutants determination on any environmental matrix, like soil, sediments and many other.<ul><li>Improved productivity</li><li>Minimal solvent volume</li><li>No cleaning step</li><li>Easy to implement</li><li>Full recovery of the analytes</li></ul><h5>Make your environmental laboratory more competitive!</h5><blockquote>Speaker: Roberto Boschini (Product Manager at Milestone)</blockquote>

Milestone: 5 tips to reduce your analysis costs in organic pollutant determination

5 tips to reduce your analysis costs in organic pollutant determination

In this webinar, you will learn five tips to reduce your analysis costs in organic pollutants determination on any environmental matrix.