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

Researchers from CATRIN at Palacký University, together with colleagues from VSB – Technical University of Ostrava and Charles University, have developed a new graphene ink for producing inexpensive and sensitive printed sensors. Using single-atom engineering, they incorporated copper atoms into the material, enabling highly sensitive detection of dopamine – a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells. The approach, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">presented in the journal Advanced Science</a>, has strong potential for use in medical diagnostics.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_8a02ad6a66.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_8a02ad6a66.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">Single-atom engineering makes it possible to control the chemical reactivity of materials at the level of individual atoms. Its broader application in medical diagnostics has so far been limited by a lack of atomically engineered materials and printable inks based on them. Researchers have now developed a new class of single-atom-doped graphene materials as well as an ink for producing sensitive printed sensors. Copper proved particularly effective for dopamine detection, which is important for biomedical research and the development of advanced diagnostic technologies for diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_2_97e419f039.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_2_97e419f039.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">“The NGA-Cu ink we developed enables the production of fully inkjet-printed, sustainable paper-based electrodes at very low cost. Each sensor requires only 1.3 micrograms of active ink, costs approximately one Czech koruna and provided a stable response for at least three months. The ink is also fully compatible with commonly available materials inkjet printers. This creates significant potential for producing affordable, digitally designed sensors whose function can be tailored atom by atom,” said&nbsp;the corresponding author of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">paper</a> Michal Otyepka.The basis for this new generation of single-atom inks was nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA), which CATRIN researchers developed several years ago. They have now progressively enriched it with different individual metal atoms, including copper, iron and manganese.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_3_c15d831792.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_3_c15d831792.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">“We found that the electrochemical response depends fundamentally on the type of atom used. While copper atoms significantly enhance the dopamine signal, other metals suppress it. What matters, therefore, is not only the presence of isolated metal atoms but also the specific metal involved. This is a very important finding for the further development of biosensors,” explained first author Martin-Alex Nalepa.The published results introduce a new class of sensing materials with considerable potential for medical diagnostics. The researchers present a broadly applicable platform for developing graphene inks containing individual metal atoms and open the way towards scalable, reproducible and material-efficient production of advanced electrochemical sensors.&nbsp;“We are only at the beginning and are fascinated by the new possibilities opening up before us. We can see that by changing the type of atom, we can control the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor. In addition to dopamine, we can also determine immunoglobulins very precisely – antibodies whose levels and types may serve as important indicators of autoimmune or infectious diseases,” emphasised Radek Zbořil, a co-author of the paper.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_4_273cd760a5.webp" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_4_273cd760a5.webp 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="2560">Electrochemical biosensors can find applications not only in medicine but also in food quality control, drinking-water monitoring and environmental pollution monitoring. Their key components are functionalised electrodes, and graphene-based materials have proved particularly suitable for their production. A key factor in the success of the Olomouc researchers was the targeted preparation of graphene ink with the required properties.The research was supported by the TECHSCALE project under the Johannes Amos Comenius Programme.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_5_b1778f77f2.jpg" alt="CATRIN: Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics: Project TECHSCALE (No. CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004587) is financed by the MEYS OP JAC Excellent research programme, supported by ERDF/ESF." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Atom_po_atomu_Vedci_ukazali_novy_smer_v_lekarske_diagnostice_5_b1778f77f2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="620" height="87"><blockquote><h4>Article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.76796">Single-Atom-Enhanced Fully Inkjet-Printed Electrochemical Sensor for Dopamine Detection</a></h4>Martin-Alex Nalepa, David Panáček, Vítězslav Hrubý, Matěj Jendřišák, Rostislav Langer, Michal Langer, Petr Jakubec, Ivan Dědek, Vojtěch Kupka, Michal Mazur, Radek Zbořil, Michal OtyepkaAdv. Sci., 2026, e76796<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76796">https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.76796</a><h6>licenced under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>Single-atom (SA) engineering offers atomic-level control over interfacial reactivity, yet the lack of printable SA-based inks hinders its practical translation into electrochemical sensing. Here, a fully water-based inkjet-printable ink is introduced based on nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA) hosting atomically dispersed Cu centers (NGA-Cu-ink). The ink enables digitally controlled, spatially defined deposition and fabrication of low-cost ($0.04 per sensor), fully inkjet-printed sustainable electrodes on paper. A comparison of NGA functionalized with different SA dopants (Cu, Mn, Fe, Ce) identifies a strong dopant-dependent electrochemical response, with Cu uniquely enhancing the analyte signal while other dopants suppress it, demonstrating that SA identity is a decisive design parameter in printed sensing interfaces profiling sensitivity and selectivity. The functional role of the NGA support is to provide dense anchoring sites (nitrogen and carboxylate groups) that stabilize atomically dispersed metal centers and create adsorption- and electron-transfer–active microenvironments. The NGA-Cu-ink yields enhanced dopamine oxidation, enabling quantitative detection on fully printed devices (limit of detection 9.7 µM; linear range 50–400 µM) and printed-on-electrode platforms (10.6 µM), while maintaining &lt;10% signal variation over 11 weeks. The approach establishes a general route to single-atom graphene-based inks for scalable, reproducible, and low-material-consumption manufacturing of advanced electrochemical sensors.

Atom by atom. Scientists reveal a new direction in medical diagnostics

Article

Application

Environment

Science and research

Poster

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

CATRIN

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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

New Food magazine

Labmate

The Analytical Scientist

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Spectroscopy & Separation Science

This e-seminar focuses on the application of nominal and high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry coupled to gas chromatography and thermal inlet systems for the comprehensive quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of petroleum derived matrices, from middle distillates to vacuum residues.
<h3>Highlights include:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Adoption of GCxGC towards high temperature and phase considerations</li>
<li>Determination of boiling point distribution by high temp GCxGC</li>
<li>Classification according to compound class</li>
<li>Derivation of absolute quantitative information</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Thomas Groeger (Joint Mass Spectrometry Centre, Univ of Rostock and Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen)
</blockquote>

Pixabay/SatyaPrem: High Temp GCxGC of Light Crude Oil and High Boilers

High Temp GCxGC of Light Crude Oil and High Boilers

The determination of water content in alcoholic beverages, solvents and various consumer products such as foods, fuels, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products is one of the most common types of chemical testing.
Many techniques such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography (GC), Karl Fischer Titration, near infra-red spectroscopy, and others have been used for water quantification with good results. [1] However, the limitations of these approaches can include high limits of detection, large sample sizes required for trace analysis, side reactions, the use of expensive consumables, and the production of chemical waste. Previous work by Prof. Daniel Armstrong and co-workers has described the use of ionic liquid GC capillary columns for the trace analysis of the water content in a wide variety of solvents. [2] These columns were capable of providing a rapid and quantitative determination of water contents using very small sample amounts. This webinar further examines the characteristics of ionic liquid capillary columns for the GC analysis of water.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Leonard M. Sidisky (Milliporesigma)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Len is the R&amp;D Manager for Gas Separations at MilliporeSigma. He received his B.S. degree in Biology (1980) and an M.S. in Food Science (1997) from The Pennsylvania State University. He has been working at Supelco since 1982 and is responsible for new novel technologies related to GC, sample preparation, air sampling, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and high-performance carbon adsorbents. His analytical background includes expertise in GC, LC and sample preparation such as SPE and SPME. He is very active in the American Oil Chemist’s Society (AOCS) including their Analytical Division. He has served the AOCS’s Northeast Section (President, 2000-2001 and VP 1998-1999), Chromatography Committee Chairperson (2000-2009), Governing Board Technical Steering Committee Chairperson (2010-2017), Vice-President (2017-present), National Secretary (2016-2017), AOCS Fellow 2016, NE-AOCS Section president (2000-2001) as well as VP (1998-1999). Other activities include Hans Kaunitz Award Chairman 2000-2001, Supelco/ Nicholas Pelick AOCS Lipid Award Representative 1994-present, 1992 Ralph H. Potts Memorial Fellowship Award Winner. Len is also a member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), American Chemical Society (ACS) member; ASTM D01, D02, D03, D16, D19, D22, D26 and E13 Committees. His research interests are in the development of GC products for a wide range of industrial applications, capillary columns for lipid sample analyses, theory and practical application of Capillary GC and SPME product development and applications. He has presented and published numerous papers and given seminars worldwide.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mark Janeczko ( Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Mark Janeczko has over 30 years’ experience in the analytical chemistry instrumentation industry holding leadership roles in applications, sales, business development, and marketing for some of the leading companies in the industry. Currently he is the Energy and Chemicals Marketing Manager for Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Inc. (Columbia, MD). Mark earned a BA in Chemistry from Canisius College (Buffalo, NY) and joint International MBA from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD) and the University of Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium).
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Tom Lynch CChem (FRSC, Labamate)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Tom has 35 years’ of experience in the petroleum industry, specialising in the delivery of forensic and problem solving /method development capabilities for BP Fuels and Lubricants businesses globally. He was also a member of the BP Science Council representing Analytical Science and led a BP wide Analytical Science network. Tom has published over 30 citable papers, 4 book chapters and has given over 60 presentations at conferences. He is a past Vice President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Analytical Division and a past Chairman of the RSC Separation Science Group. In addition, Tom is a recipient of the Silver Jubilee Medal by the Chromatographic Society and a technical achievement award by the Energy Institute.
</blockquote>

Shimadzu: Supelco’s Watercol™ Ionic Liquid Capillary Columns Coupled with TCD and Shimadzu’s BID for Detection and Quantitative Analysis of Water by Gas Chromatography.

Supelco’s Watercol™ Ionic Liquid Capillary Columns Coupled with TCD and Shimadzu’s BID for Detection and Quantitative Analysis of Water by Gas Chromatography.

Characteristics of ionic liquid capillary columns for the GC analysis of water.

Supelco’s Watercol™ Ionic Liquid Capillary Columns

The identification of unknown compounds in one of the most challenging tasks for analytical chemists due to the wide scope of the analysis and the importance of arriving at a confident conclusion. The challenges exist from generic sample preparation, through to instrumental detection and software processing to isolate and make confident compound identifications. The applications of extractable and leachable impurities in food or bio/pharmaceutical products, food safety and metabolomics are areas where unknown’s analysis is essential. Finding a high risk leached impurity in the production pipeline or a food contaminant can lead to costly delays or product withdrawal. High resolution accurate mass spectrometry (HRAM) using Orbitrap technology offers a new dimension in confidence for rapid, simple unknown identification. We present workflows for unknown identification using GC Orbitrap based mass spectrometry and spectral libraries that can allow you to insure that a comprehensive picture of your sample is obtained.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dominic Roberts (Product Marketing Manager GC/GC-MS EMEA, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Runcorn, UK)
</blockquote>

Thermo Fisher Scientific: Confident identification of unknowns using GC Orbitrap MS

Confident identification of unknowns using GC Orbitrap MS

Routine testing laboratories continue to strive for efficient and reliable sample throughput. Multiresidue pesticides is an example of this, where the generic extraction offered by QuEChERS has streamlined sample preparation. However, for comprehensive pesticide testing, both liquid and gas chromatography are typically required.
<h3>Join us to learn about:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fit-for-purpose, comprehensive analysis of pesticides in a selection of foodstuffs, by LC- and GC-MS/MS</li>
<li>Key considerations and easy-to-use tools to maximise your method performance</li>
<li>Testing in compliance with the relevant guidelines of SANTE 11813/2017</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kari Organtini, Ph.D. (Senior Scientist, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kari received her Ph.D. from Penn State studying the occurrence of dioxins and furans in fire debris. Since 2015 she has been a Senior Scientist at Waters focusing on food and environmental sample analysis.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/Jerzy Górecki: Maximizing Mass Spectrometry Capabilities in Food Analyses for Multiresidues

Maximizing Mass Spectrometry Capabilities in Food Analyses for Multiresidues

There is increased concern regarding the authenticity of basmati rice throughout the world. For years, traders have been passing off a lesser quality rice as the world&#39;s finest long-grained, aromatic rice, basmati, in key markets like the US, Canada and the EU.
In this on-demand webinar, we describe a proof of principle method to assess the authenticity of basmati rice using the latest advancements in high resolution GC-MS and informatics technologies. Volatile compounds of interest were extracted from heated dry rice via SPME and headspace. Following a generic GC separation, detection was performed using a SYNAPT G2-Si MS run in HDMSE mode. Collection of a HDMSE dataset offers a high level of specificity owing to the orthogonal nature of the ion mobility separation to the GC separation.
Progenesis QI, the latest OMICS informatics package from Waters, is designed to utilize the 4-dimensional data produced during a SYNAPT G2-Si HDMSE acquisition. Initially, alignment of all injections was performed followed by the unique peak co-detection process resulting in the same number of analyte measurements in every sample and no missing values. Data from all isotopes and adducts of a parent compound were then deconvoluted giving a single robust and accurate quantitative measurement for that parent compound. The peak picking and deconvolution algorithms ensure a high quality compound table where adducts and isotopes are grouped with the parent m/z. Compounds of interest from the rice samples were highlighted using various multivariate statistical techniques such as PCA and identified using elucidation tools and relevant database searches within the software platform.
This workflow has general applicability to many areas of discovery OMICS and food research where biomarkers differentiating between two or multiple groups are required.
<h3>What will I learn?</h3>
<ul>
<li>An experimental workflow to evaluate the authenticity of foodstuffs</li>
<li>A basic workflow for the discovery of volatile biomarkers between multiple groups of samples</li>
<li>The basics of HDMSE data independent acquisition</li>
<li>How Progenesis QI is used to analyze metabolomics data</li>
</ul>
<h3>Who should attend?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Food research scientists</li>
<li>Metabolomics research scientists</li>
<li>Biomarker research scientists</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Robert Tonge, Ph.D. (Senior Product Manager, OMICS Informatics, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr Robert Tonge is Senior Product Manager for OMICS Informatics at Waters Corporation, Manchester UK. Robert has been at Waters for 4 years in both Product Development and Field Marketing and has approaching 20 years experience in OMICS science. He trained initially in Biochemistry and Toxicology before moving to &#39;Big Pharma&#39; where he worked in Discovery and Translational Research across a wide variety of disease areas from cancer, cardiovascular disease and infection research.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Gareth Cleland, Ph.D. (Principal Scientist, Food &amp; Environmental Business, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr Gareth Cleland is a Principal Scientist within the Food and Environment Business Operations at Waters Headquarters, USA. Following his Chemistry studies, he started his professional career working as a Development Chemist for a small coatings company in Oxfordshire, UK. He joined Waters Corporation in 2002 and has held various roles within the organization, both UK and US based, over the last 12 years.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/Trung Hieu Dang: Discovery OMICS and Progenesis QI for Food Authenticity Testing

Discovery OMICS and Progenesis QI for Food Authenticity Testing

This webinar will provide an overview on the topic of analyzing various fat species in foods and methods to determine various classes from total fat to various lipid fractions and the wide variety of analyses available for fat determination. Topics discussed will include the analyses of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMES) in foods and the use of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) for the enhanced separation of highly complex mixtures. Advances in GC column stationary phases and new phases based on ionic liquid technology for the analyses of saturated and polyunsaturated FAMES will be discussed aswell as the use of GC×GC in the field of food lipid analysis. The considerable advantages of the two-dimensional approach (both with and without MS detection), in experiments related to a series of lipid volatiles (fatty acids, sterols, oxidation products, fatty alcohols, etc) will be illustrated.
<h3>Featured in this webinar:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Overview the wide variety of methods available for the analysis of fat in foods.</li>
<li>Examine traditional and new classes of GC Stationary Phases for the evaluation of various FAME species.</li>
<li>Discuss the power of two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) for separating highly complex mixtures and how it can be combined with mass spectrometry for analyzing volatile and semi-volatile analytes</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Len Sidisky (R&amp;D Manager, Gas Separations Business Unit, Sigma-Aldrich)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Len discusses traditional and new stationary phases for FAME analyses and how these can be used to resolve various fatty acid species.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Len holds a Masters of Food Science from Penn State University and is the author of numerous papers, seminars, and other presentations on capillary gas chromatographic and SPME theory, techniques and applications. He has lectured worldwide, including the United States, Europe, Japan, China and in South America on various chromatographic techniques primarily focusing on capillary GC, SPME and air monitoring devices/ adsorbents.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Peter Q. Tranchida (Associate Professor, Food Chemistry in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Product Sciences, University of Messina)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Tranchida discusses the use of GC×GC in the field of food lipid analysis. The considerable advantages of the two-dimensional approach (both with and without MS detection), in experiments related to a series of lipid volatiles (fatty acids, sterols, oxidation products, fatty alcohols, etc) will be illustrated and discussed. 
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Tranchida focuses on the study of complex food samples using advanced chromatography processes, such as fast and very-fast GC systems. An emphasis of his work is the evaluation of ultimate generation stationary phases (i.e., ionic liquids), and the development and application of classical multidimensional and comprehensive chromatography systems. In the field of GC×GC, he has performed applications, method optimization studies, and introduced a new form of flow modulation. At the”9th GC×GC symposium” he was awarded the “John Phillips Award” for outstanding achievements in the field of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography. He has co-authored 100 scientific papers, 16 book chapters, and 240 oral/poster presentations.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/engin akyurt: Novel Techniques and New Advances in the Analyses of Fat species in Foods

Novel Techniques and New Advances in the Analyses of Fat species in Foods

Hans-Gerd will describe how GC-VUV provides a new solution to MOSH / MOAH analytical challenges through its unique selectivity.
Highly purified mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) are used in several food and cosmetic products. In these MOH materials low levels of (residual) Mineral oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) can be present. The quantification of these compounds is by no means trivial. All samples contain a vast excess of MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons). The cause of these problems is often the use of non-selective analytical methods. Hans-Gerd will describe how GC-VUV provides a new solution to MOSH / MOAH analytical challenges through its unique selectivity.
<h3>Learning Objectives of Webinar</h3>
<ul>
<li>Understand the importance of characterizing MOSH and MOAH compounds in food and cosmetic products.</li>
<li>Learn about the analytical challenges common to the separation and quantification of MOSH and MOAH compounds.</li>
<li>Gain insight into how the unique selectivity of GC-VUV enables the accurate identification and quantification of MOSH and MOAH compounds.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Hans-Gerd Janssen, Science leader, Unilever Research Vlaardingen &amp; professor analytical chemistry, University of Amsterdam, Unilever, University of Amsterdam
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Janssen is a Professor at the University of Amsterdam and Science Leader at Unilever Research Vlaardingen, the Netherlands. His research focuses on the development of novel methods for obtaining highly detailed compositional information on complex samples. He is well known for his work with comprehensive chromatography set-ups that combine high-resolution liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. He holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Eindhoven University of Technology.
</blockquote>

Pixabay/Redhawk Investment Group: A new tool for more reliable and more detailed MOAH analysis: Gas Chromatography with Vacuum Ultraviolet detection (GC-VUV)

A new tool for more reliable and more detailed MOAH analysis: Gas Chromatography with Vacuum Ultraviolet detection (GC-VUV)

To obtain a univocal identification we need three independent pieces of analytical information. Flavor and fragrance components are usually separated by gas chromatography and identified with MS spectral comparison and linear retention indices (LRI). However, diastereomeric or positional isomers can present identical retention behavior and MS spectra, and can cause misidentification. The development of a unique condensed-phase FTIR provides the solution - a simple post-column split combines it with a GC-MS instrument, using the GC to separate the components and MS (TOF) and FTIR spectrometers to give structural elucidation in a single analysis.
<h3>Learning Objectives of Webinar</h3>
<ul>
<li>When GC-MS in not enough: unique condensed phase GC-FTIR.</li>
<li>Importance of the linear retention index (LRI) in the identification procedure.</li>
<li>Comprehensive flavor and fragrance MS (TOF) / FTIR library: application for real essential oil and perfume samples.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: William W. Carson, PE, Chief Technology officer, DANI Instruments INC
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Developer of scientific and biotech separation, analysis and purification systems. He has led highly successful start-up through Fortune 500 groups developing and commercializing chromatography, membrane and hyphenated spectroscopy systems. Bill’s 30+ issued US Patents have generated over $1 Billion in sales. In 1986 he received the Millipore Prize for Innovation. In 2008 he was the winner of the R&amp;D 100 Award for the development of the DiscovIR LC a direct deposition, desolvation system which hyphenated HPLC to FTIR.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Margita Utczás, PhD, Product manager Libraries, Chromaleont srl
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Margita Utczás graduated in 2007 in Chemical engineering, then in 2009 in Biomedical engineering and in 2013 she received a PhD in Chemical Sciences at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. She was a post doctoral fellow at the University of Messina and later worked at Chromaleont as a GC-MS specialist. She has just become the responsible of the analytical department of the Center of Sports Nutrition Science at the University of Physical Education of Budapest and currently she is an external consultant of her former workplace, Chromaleont. Her main research interests include: supercritical extraction and enzymatic resolution techniques, gas chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry and FTIR and their applications to the study of bioactive and flavor and fragrance compounds.
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Pixabay/djedj: Univocal Identification of Flavor and Fragrance Compounds Using GC-MS (TOF) / Condensed Phase FTIR with an Extensive Library