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

Agilent Technologies

Phenomenex

PerkinElmer

Frontier Lab

Restek Corporation

SelectScience

What could we gain if we are able to combine multiple analyses that were run on separate instruments into a single GC-QQQ method with one injection? Could we reduce turnaround time, increase our productivity, reduce bench spaced needed and consolidate our data analysis? Strategies for streamlining the method development process and batch review using MassHunter software tools will also be discussed.
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Presenter: Rachael Ciotti (GC/MS Application Specialist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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<blockquote>
Rachael Ciotti is a GCMS Application Specialist at Agilent Technologies in Wilmington, DE. Previously, she was a Field Service Engineer specializing in installing, maintaining, and repairing Agilent GC and GC/MS systems. Prior to joining Agilent, Rachael worked at DuPont as an analytical chemist responsible for GC and GC/MS method development and transfer to manufacturing labs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rutgers University.
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Presenter: Eric Fausett (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Eric Fausett is an Application Scientist at Agilent Technologies with a focus on GC methodologies. Prior to his 6 years at Agilent, Eric worked for 15 years as a contractor to various US Government laboratories as a Project Scientist, GC Applications Chemist and Laboratory Manager.
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<blockquote>
Presenter: Dale Walker (GCMS Applications Specialist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Unleash The Power Of GC-QQQ In Your Environmental Laboratory

Unleash The Power Of GC-QQQ In Your Environmental Laboratory

In our Microplastics Symposium, hear from industry experts and peers working within the field of Microplastics.
With a mixture of live talks across various topic areas and product demonstrations, this event is a great opportunity to uncover more about microplastics analysis in the lab. We will also have our experts available to chat live on the day, allowing you to further increase your knowledge and skills on this topical issue.
<h3>What topic areas can you expect to see on the day?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Microplastics Analysis with the 8700 LDIR with a focus on the marine environment;</li>
<li>Quantification of Microplastics with GC/MSD;</li>
<li>Current activities in the world of standardization;</li>
<li>Microplastics Analysis with the GC/Q-TOF;</li>
<li>And more.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Agenda Live Sessions</h3>
<h5>08:30 BST | 09:30 CET Plastic Pollution - Sources, Pathways and Solutions</h5>
Presenter: Joao Frias (Marine litter and microplastic researcher Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology)
<h5>09:00 BST | 10:00 CET Microplastic Analytics: Current Activities in the World of Standardisation</h5>
Presenter: Claus Gerhard Bannick (Head of wastewater technology research at the Federal Environment Agency)
<h5>09:30 BST | 10:30 CET Status of microplastics characterization via ICP-mass spectrometry</h5>
Presenter: Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez (Postdoctoral Researcher | Ghent University)
<h5>10:00 BST | 11:00 CET Mass Balance Measurements in Microplastics: An Analytical Comparison of Thermal Extraction, Pyrolysis, and Thermal Extraction – Desorption GC/MS</h5>
Presenter: Kurt Thaxton (International Product Manager, Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis | Gerstel)
<h5>10:30 BST | 11:30 CET Detecting microplastics in environmental samples – examples from sludge, mussels, and release experiments</h5>
Presenter: Anders Baun (Head of Department | DTU Environment)
<h5>11:00 BST | 12:00 CET Approaches for the Evaluation of FTIR images</h5>
Presenter: Jana Weisser (Scientist PhD | Technical University of Munich (TUM))
<h5>11.30 BST | 12:30 CET Thermal analytical methods for Microplastics Analysis</h5>
Presenter: Ulrike Braun (Head of department | German Environmental Agency)
<h5>12.00 BST | 13:00 CET Analysis of microplastics and organic contaminants in marine matrices</h5>
Presenter: Laure Papillon (Engineering Administrative Technician | Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography; Mélanie Ourgaud, Post-doc | Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography)
<h5>13:00 BST | 14:00 CET Microplastics in aqueous samples – Requirements for sample preparation and analysis</h5>
Presenter: Svenja Mintenig (Phd Student | University of Wageningen)
<h5>13:30 BST | 14:30 CET Nano- and Microplastics Analysis via LDIR and ICP-MS</h5>
Presenter: Lars Hildebrandt (Researcher - Inorganic Environmental Chemistry | Helmholtz-Zntrum Hereon)
<h5>14:00 BST | 15:00 CET Looking beyond the polymer: Characterisation of Microplastics by Thermal Desorption GC/MS</h5>
Presenter: Helen Martin (Business Unit Manager - Thermal Desorption Instruments | Markes International)
<h5>14:30 BST | 15:30 CET Purency- Machine Learning vs. Databases: A question of speed, accuracy and scalability</h5>
Presenter: Benedikt Hufnagl (Chief Technology Officer at Purency | Vienna University of Technology)
<h5>15:00 BST | 16:00 CET Screening of Plastic Addititves and Organic contaminates in microplastics exposed to the Marine Environment by GC-QTOF and LC-QTOF</h5>
Presenter: José Benito Quintana (Associate Professor | Universidade de Santiago de Compostela)
<h5>15:30 BST | 16:30 CET Effective Digestion of Fish Stomachs and subsequant microplastics by LDIR</h5>
Presenter: José Manuel Andrade-Garda (Professor of Analytical Chemistry | University of Coruna)
<h5>16:00 BST | 17:00 CET Environmentally relevant weathered polymer libraries: The current absence, the urgent need, and the potential usage</h5>
Presenter: Rick McCumskay, PhD (Researcher | University of Hull)
<h5>16:30 BST | 17:30 CET Analysis of microplastics in the gastro-intestinal tract of fishes using LDIR chemical imaging</h5>
Presenter: Florian Breider (Head of Unit | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - EPFL)

Agilent Technologies: Agilent - Microplastics in the Environment Virtual Symposium 2021

Agilent - Microplastics in the Environment Virtual Symposium 2021

Microplastics Analysis in the environment is a challenging task because of its micro/Nano sizes and trace/ultra-trace level concentrations (ppb and sub ppb). Although the presence of microplastics in drinking water, seawater, sediment, biota and even in air is reported by numerous reports, there are still many unanswered questions in terms of method selectivity, sensitivity and data quality. Still researchers are looking for right choice of protocol for sampling and sample preparations and analysis.
For analysis, techniques like FTIR, Raman Spectroscopy, Fluorescence Spectroscopy are most commonly used. But all these methods have its own challenges. We will be presenting a new method for the analysis of Microplastics which is based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (PY-GCMS). Microplastics identification and quantification by PGCMS is boosted by Frontier Lab’s Microplastic Software. 
In this webinar, you will get to learn about microplastics and its importance, Current methods and Challenges, a new method using PYGCMS and a Software. Please come and join OUR WEBINAR to learn more about it. 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Sathrugnan Karthikeyan
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Ichi Watanabe
</blockquote>

Frontier Laboratories: Identification and quantification of environmental microplastics

Identification and quantification of environmental microplastics 

<blockquote>
Presenter: Bill Hahn (Principle Field Application Specialist, PerkinElmer)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Bill has had an extensive 40 year career beginning with Forensics/methods development, then consulting for several years before being Vice president of operations for a chain of environmental testing labs, including a CLP lab and over 200 chemists. Founded and operated a calibration standard company for 18 years. After selling his company, Bill started with PerkinElmer in 2012, where he is a Principle Field Application Specialist for GC, GC/MS and the portable GC/MS systems in North America.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/wiredsmartio: Portable GC/MS Tips & Tricks

Portable GC/MS Tips & Tricks

Headspace sampling is a simple and elegant method for volatile organic compound (VOC) extraction, which has been successfully used to detect and quantify biomarkers for respiratory disease and liver impairment.
Learn about an optimized method for the detection of key analytes such as aldehydes, alkanes and ketones from culture media samples. The method combines high-capacity sorptive extraction technology with automated thermal desorption (TD), coupled with gas chromatography (GC) separation and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, to provide reliable detection below 1 ng and high-throughput analysis of samples.
This webinar will showcase how Owlstone Medical, in collaboration with Markes, has developed headspace analytical methods for the detection of volatile biomarkers, putting us much closer to breath-based diagnostics for lung disease and liver impairment.
<h3>By attending this webinar, you will:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Learn about HiSorb™ for the extraction and analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds as indicators of disease and organ impairment</li>
<li>See how the Centri® platform can fully automate sample extraction &amp; desorption, improving laboratory productivity and analytical sensitivity.</li>
<li>Understand how analyte preconcentration, using cryogen-free trapping technology, can be optimized for low-level compounds of interest in complex sample types</li>
<li>Hear how the technique helped to overcome complex challenges, enabling the discovery of biomarkers to advance breath-based diagnostics</li>
</ul>
<h3>Who should attend?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Laboratories thinking of extending their sample extraction and analysis portfolio to answer growing business and research demands</li>
<li>Scientists interested in simplifying and expediting the analysis of complex samples, whether for discovery and development or routine monitoring and quality control</li>
<li>Environmental, flavor, scents, toxicology and diagnostics scientists</li>
<li>Laboratory managers/directors/supervisors interested in how advanced analytical techniques can provide a competitive edge and expand capabilities</li>
</ul>
<h3>Certificate of attendance</h3>
<ul>
<li>All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary for continuing education purposes.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Alexandra Martin (Analytical research &amp; Development Scientist, Owlstone Medical Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Following her MSci in natural sciences at the University of Birmingham, Alexandra also completed her Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry at the University of Birmingham in 2020, researching the physicochemical differences between mammalian and bacterial model cell membranes. She joined Owlstone in 2020 as an applications scientist and now works in breath biopsy test projects aiming to diagnose early-stage lung cancer and other diseases using breath sampling, with a focus on headspace GC-MS techniques.
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Presenter: Rachael Szafnauer (Applications Scientist, Markes International Ltd)
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Rachael Szafnauer received an MSci in forensic science from the University of South Wales, UK, where her final-year project focused on fingerprinting emerging psychoactive substances using advanced techniques such as GCxGC–TOF MS, in collaboration with Markes International. She later took up the role of thermal desorption product specialist at Markes, providing technical and application support to the commercial team, before taking on her current role as product marketing manager for the Centri product line and specializing in the development of applications using extraction and enrichment techniques for GC-MS.
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Presenter: Sarah Thomas (Selectscience)
</blockquote>
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Sarah studied biology at the University of Bath, UK, and has worked in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis. As a member of the Editorial team, Sarah plays an integral role in shaping the content on SelectScience.
</blockquote>

Unsplash/Brett Jordan: Detect, discover, diagnose: Uncovering biomarkers to advance non-invasive breath-based diagnostics

Detect, discover, diagnose: Uncovering biomarkers to advance non-invasive breath-based diagnostics

Non-authorized presence of ethylene oxide (ETO) and 2-chloroethanol (2CE) in sesame seeds and other food commodities is a new emerging food safety issue. First notification about the presence of ETO in sesame seeds dates from August 2020, and since then over 500 new notifications were published on the European Rapid Alert Food and Feed Safety (RASFF) portal. To ensure that foods are safe for consumption, food industry and enforcement agencies need reliable and robust methods to detect ETO and 2CE in foods preferably at levels at or below the set maximum residue limit of 0.05 mg/kg.
For the determination of these contaminants a combination of a QuEChERS sample preparation method and a GC-MS/MS analytical method was proposed by the EU Reference Laboratories for Residues of Pesticides. However, several challenges are encountered when it comes to the analysis of ETO and 2CE in various food products. The high volatility of ETO requires the use of a dedicated column to ensure separation from possible interference from acetaldehyde. 
Secondly, QuEChERS extracts often contain high amounts of non-volatile material which can accumulate in the inlet liner and column inlet, affecting the accuracy and robustness of the analysis. Integration of the Automated Liner Exchange (ALEX) option in the analysis of ETO and 2CE allowed to exchange the GC liner without stopping the analysis sequence and therefore with no downtime related to inlet maintenance.
Additionally, the analytical column was further protected by the integration of a pre-column with backflushing option. This allowed to remove high boiling compounds which reach the analytical column. Back-flushing was carried out while the analysis was occurring on the analytical column, keeping sample throughput unaffected. 
With this dedicated set-up based on an Agilent 8890 GC, an Agilent 7010 triple quadrupole MS and a Gerstel MPS sampler, a robust analytical solution was obtained, ensuring less downtime related to inlet maintenance, column changing and/or MS source cleaning. Limits of detection in the low range of µg/kg with excellent recovery and repeatability were obtained for sesame and curcuma samples. 
<h3>What you will learn:</h3>
Attendees will learn about how to deal with the analytical challenges of the determination of ETOX and 2-CE in food commodities and how a novel, robust and automated method can be implemented in their labs
<h3>Who should attend:</h3>
Food safety chemists, researchers and lab managers
<blockquote>
Presenter: Tatiana Cucu, Ph.D. (Senior Scientist/Project manager, Research Institute for Chromatography (RIC))
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Tatiana received her Ph.D. degree in the field of food safety and food quality in 2011 at University of Gent, Belgium. During her Ph.D. and later during her post-doc she developed analytical methods for the analysis of among other food allergens and food additives. In 2005 she joined the Research Institute for Chromatography (RIC) as senior scientist where she is involved in project related to development and optimisation of GC-MS and GC-MS/MS methods, miniaturisation and automatization of sample preparation methods and development of new applications for food, environmental, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
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Pixabay/Ulrike Leone: Analysis of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol in sesame seeds and other food commodities: challenges and solutions

Analysis of ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol in sesame seeds and other food commodities: challenges and solutions

An Agilent 8890 GC with 7010 QQQ MS and a Gerstel MPS sampler ensuring less downtime related to inlet maintenance, column changing and/or MS source cleaning.

Ethylene oxide and 2-chloroethanol in sesame seeds

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Presenter: Rahela Banu (Business Development Manager, Phenomenex India)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rahela Banu holds a master’s degree in Micro Biology from Osmania University. She worked as a Microbiologist in Royal life sciences doing analysis of FAME by Gas chromatography from various microbial samples. Later started working with Merck as Patient Support counselor. After successful 3 years stint with them she moved to Phenomenex. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
She started as an Application specialist with Gas Chromatography; Being the sole person to handle GC technique entirely for 9 years, Rahela has gained vast experience in handling customer Applications/Inquiries catering to wide extended market segments. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rahela has traveled extensively through all parts of India reaching customers of various segments working with GC/HPLC/SPE technique as Industry Specialist; Having visited manufacturing plant of Phenomenex Torrance unit Rahela works very closely with GC developing team making a bridge between advanced technologies and customer applications. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Currently she is working as a Business Development Manager at Phenomenex India and is responsible for Seminars/webinars/training&#39;s/Global coordination/market development in all product lines that goes into this applied market segment PAN India
</blockquote>

Phenomenex: How to Achieve FAST GC METHODS without altering the Resolution

How to Achieve FAST GC METHODS without altering the Resolution

Separation Science, in collaboration with the life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany offers an upcoming webinar that provides a workflow approach to guide the user from the strategy decision to the sample media selection process for air monitoring methods.
Environmental Health &amp; Safety professionals are tasked to monitor, assess, develop, and execute air sampling strategies based upon contaminant risk levels in indoor, outdoor and workplace environments. Using a workflow approach, this course will guide the user from the strategy decision to the sample media selection process – when to use active or passive sampling devices, air sampling considerations, and the limitations of laboratory instrumentation to achieve the desired solution for their application.
<h3>By attending this presentation you will learn...</h3>
<ul>
<li>a practical workflow approach to selecting air monitoring methods and related air sampling media devices to fit your applications</li>
<li>the fundamental differences between active and passive sampling devices, when to use or not to use them noting the advantages and disadvantages of each type</li>
<li>how analytical instrumentation plays a role in selection of air sampling media devices and their capabilities.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kristen Schultz (MilliporeSigma, Bellefonte, PA, USA)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kristen Schultz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from the New York Institute of Technology. She is the Global Franchise Product Manager for Air Monitoring &amp; GC Consumables. Prior to Merck, she worked in quality assurance and control (QA/QC) management; HAACP; equipment and process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ); and manufacturing management in the food/beverage, life sciences and medical device industries.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/catazul: The Essentials of Air Sampling from Strategy to Solutions

The Essentials of Air Sampling from Strategy to Solutions

In Gas chromatography 90% of the trouble experienced, is happening in the injection system.
We will discuss a series of practical examples.

GC Troubleshooting Basics

In this troubleshooting session we will discuss the purpose and impact of split and splitless injection.

We probably have all experienced this at some point when performing gas chromatography and our peak shape begins to appear a bit different.
Often the best way to approach troubleshooting is to also consider what ‘cannot’ cause an issue so that precious time is not spent addressing something that cannot cause the issue. This webinar will arm you with some simple tools, and a different way to look at troubleshooting, should a problem arise.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Alex Ucci (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In his current position at Agilent, Alex provides application assistance and technical support for sample preparation products as well as GC and LC consumables. Before he joined Agilent in 2014, Alex was a graduate student at the Pennsylvania State University researching the morphology and surface properties of aerosol particles using a wide variety of analytical techniques. He has an MS degree in chemistry.
</blockquote>
<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>