Analysis of characteristic flavor compounds in coffee peels subjected to different thermal processing treatments based on GC–IMS and HS-SPME–GC–MS combined with chemical pattern recognition

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

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Environment

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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.

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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

Agilent Technologies

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Frontier Lab

SelectScience

Wiley

VWR/Avantor

The installation and care of your GC column is of the utmost importance. Whether you are new to the practice of gas chromatography, or would like a refresher, join us as we discuss proper column installation and handling for all Agilent GCs, including the Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC. 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 performance and extend its lifetime while minimizing instrument downtime.
<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: 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: Tips and Tricks: Best Practices for Column Installation and Care of GC Columns

Tips and Tricks: Best Practices for Column Installation and Care of GC Columns

Whether you are new to the practice of GC, or would like a refresher, join us as we discuss proper column installation and handling for all Agilent GCs.

Tips and Tricks: GC Column Installation and Care

In this application, we will review a fast, easy and reliable analysis method of THCA and CBDA decarboxylation in cannabis oil and flower samples by infrared spectroscopy.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rogelio García Juárez (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rogelio García has a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University National of Mexico and a Master´s degree in Environmental Engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute. He worked in environmental laboratories in the development of methods and applications in water, soil, and air and method design for the pharmaceutical and food industry. He also worked in the implementation of quality management systems in laboratories to obtain accreditation in the 17025 standard, validation process, and analysis of the uncertainty of the method. In 2015, he joined Agilent Technologies as an Application Scientist for Molecular Spectroscopy in UV-Vis, FTIR, and Raman techniques, at Agilent México and Latin America.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Cannabinoid analysis by FTIR

Cannabinoid analysis by FTIR

Fast, easy and reliable analysis method of THCA and CBDA decarboxylation in cannabis oil and flower samples by infrared spectroscopy.

Dear Orbitrap users,
We are pleased to invite you to our Autumn 2023 version of virtual activities to support our Compound Discoverer (CD) software users.
The workshops are designed to bring beginners up-to-speed with best practices as well as allow advanced users to interact with software experts and enquire how to get the most out of their data. Additionally, two dedicated sessions specialized in Metabolite/drug metabolite Identification (Met ID) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) data analysis will follow.
The content is delivered through online workshops, 2-3 hours each, via MS-Teams. The workshops feature live exercises on pre-distributed data, discussion of CD features, parameters, and optimized settings. The sessions are hands-on and highly interactive, so get the best experience by having CD 3.3 SP2 up and running. <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-lc-ms/lc-ms-software/multi-omics-data-analysis/compound-discoverer-software.html">Click HERE</a> to download a free 60-day trial version of the latest Compound Discoverer software release.
The sessions allow ample time for the participants to get their CD-related questions answered in real time. The workshops will be taught in English, but participants can use MS Team`s instant subtitles in their preferred language.
<h5>Specialized data processing:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Met ID: Wednesday 4th October: 10.00 - 13.30 CEST (Berlin time)</li>
<li>GCMS: Thursday 18th October: 10.00 - 13.30 CEST (Berlin time)</li>
</ul>

Thermo Scientific: Compound Discoverer software workshops (Specialized data processing: Met ID)

Compound Discoverer software workshops (Specialized data processing: Met ID)

The workshops are designed to bring beginners up-to-speed with best practices as well as allow advanced users to interact with software experts.

Compound Discoverer software (data processing: Met ID)

Join Ederina Ninga from the Danish National Food Institute, Gwen Lim and Thomas Preiswerk from CTC Analytics, will discuss a novel workflow that allows the automatic preparation of calibration standards, automatic sample dilution, and automatic clean-up of sample extracts on one instrument.
Furthermore, discover how miniaturized automated solutions are reducing errors, improving analytical consistency, and protecting the environment in one convenient approach.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Pascal Fuchsmann (Head of Flavor Analytics)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Stefan Cretnik (Product Manager)
</blockquote>

SelectScience: Advantages of automated and miniaturized µ-SPE clean-up in pesticide residue analysis

Advantages of automated and miniaturized µ-SPE clean-up in pesticide residue analysis

Novel workflow that allows the automatic preparation of calibration standards.

Advantages of automated and miniaturized µ-SPE clean-up

The use of sample preparation to provide enhanced performance is reviewed for the analysis of biological fluids.
The comprehensive investigation into different sample preparation techniques will determine the effect on recovery, matrix effects and matrix removal. It is shown that the use of protein precipitation can provide robust data, however some of the underlying information demonstrates that this approach may not always be suitable. Data will be presented which demonstrates the effect of changing the sample preparation technique on the retention of phospholipids and the impact that this can have on detection robustness. Finally, the impact of sample preparation will be investigated with real samples provided from an endangered species. This part of the presentation will investigate the use of solvent extraction in an approach to determine key biomarkers that will ultimately be applied to optimising captive environments to lower stress levels.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Tony Edge (R&amp;D Manager, Avantor Sciences)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Tony Edge is R&amp;D Manager at Avantor Sciences, heading a team of specialist scientists in manufacturing and developing next generation stationary phases for HPLC. He has worked in both manufacturing and also industry, having periods of employment at LGC and also AstraZeneca as well as ThermoFisherScientific and latterly Agilent Technologies. In 2008, he was fortunate enough to be awarded the Desty memorial lecture for his contributions to innovating separation science, and in the same year also won a clinical excellence award from AstraZeneca. He is currently the President of the UK chromatographic Society and also the chair of the permenent scientific committee for the ISC, as well as being the chair for the next ISC which is due to be held in Liverpool in 2024.
</blockquote>

Avantor: Understanding the importance of sample preparation for the analysis of biological samples

Understanding the importance of sample preparation for the analysis of biological samples

Understanding the importance of sample preparation for the analysis of biological samples.

Sample preparation for the analysis of biological samples

Comparing MS spectra to libraries of reference spectra is one of the most widely used and successful methodologies in the identification of unknown mass spectra. Using this approach, access to an expansive, quality dataset is critical to achieving reliable results.
In this session we will introduce the latest release of the Wiley Registry® / NIST Mass Spectral Library 2023, which combines the power of two trusted MS spectral libraries to provide comprehensive compound coverage and ensure identification across multiple use cases and a wide variety of analytes.
In this session, we will also demonstrate through a series of live examples how this library can be used to successfully identify unknown spectra.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Nadia Laschuk
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Nadia Laschuk is a Product Manager for Wiley Science Solutions, for which she manages new products and databases while supporting existing KnowItAll capabilities. Nadia previously completed her PhD in Materials Science from Ontario Tech University, where she performed research applying a wide array of instrumental techniques to analyze metal-organic coordination compounds. Nadia has since pursued cheminformatics and software, joining Wiley in 2022.
</blockquote>

Wiley: Increase the Likelihood of MS Identification with the Wiley Registry / NIST Library

Increase the Likelihood of MS Identification with the Wiley Registry / NIST Library

The latest release of the Wiley Registry® / NIST Mass Spectral Library 2023, which combines the power of two trusted MS spectral libraries.

MS Identification with the Wiley Registry / NIST Library

Seeing everything, and as low as possible, with GC and MS is a function of selectivity and sensitivity: get as much as you can on column, and as best as you can, don&#39;t favor one set of compounds over another.
At some point a one microliter injection of a sample fails this criteria; what next? Concentration!
We will focus on how to concentrate analytes introduced via liquid, headspace, SPME, thermal desorption, and more, all using the latest advancements in a Peltier cooled, valveless, and simple to understand dynamic focusing system for your GC.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kurt Thaxton (International Product Manager, Gerstel)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kurt Thaxton is an International Product Manager for GERSTEL, a German manufacturer of thermal desorption, pyrolysis, and other means of sample preparation and sample introduction for GC- and LC-MS.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
For over twenty years, Kurt has been a user of thermal desorption and pyrolysis as a research scientist at International Paper and later as a Product Specialist for Varian Inc. Later Kurt became involved in both the commercial and technical aspects of these techniques at Markes International and now GERSTEL.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kurt also serves actively in different capacities at SAE, ASTM, AIHA, and ISO. Kurt has an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from The Ohio State University where he focused on using mass spectrometry to solve analytical problems; MS remains a central interest and focus of Kurt&#39;s work today.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: New Advances in Pre-Concentration for GC-MS: Seeing More and Lower

New Advances in Pre-Concentration for GC-MS: Seeing More and Lower

How to concentrate analytes introduced via liquid, headspace, SPME, thermal desorption, and more, all using the latest advancements in a Peltier.

New Advances in Pre-Concentration for GC-MS

Two years have passed since we hosted our first microplastics symposium.
Since then, the microplastic landscape has witnessed significant developments—the impending release of the first ISO standard and ongoing advancements in SOPs. We are pleased that we can bring you together with experts in our field.
This digital conference aims to explore various crucial topics related to the analysis of microplastics, covering areas such as sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and evaluation.
<h3>Highlights – Why you should attend</h3>
<h5>Stay updated on microplastic analysis</h5>
Gain insight into the latest advancements and challenges in microplastic analysis. This seminar covers essential aspects such as sampling, sample preparation, and analysis techniques like spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and chromatography (pyr/TED-GC/MS). 
<h5>Explore diverse applications</h5>
Discover the wide range of applications beyond microplastic analysis that can be addressed with a QCL-based IR imaging system like the LDIR 8700. Get an overview of its potential in areas such as materials, bio, and pharmaceuticals.
<h5>Take part in a live demo</h5>
Witness a live demonstration of an automatic microplastic analysis workflow. Experience firsthand how these techniques and technologies come together to address real-world challenges. Engage with Agilent experts who will answer any questions you may have.
<h5>Showcase your expertise</h5>
Actively participate by presenting your work and contributions in techniques like TED-GC/MS, pyr-GC/MS, and ICP-MS, which are crucial for microplastic analysis. Alternatively, highlight your knowledge of the versatile LDIR 8700 system, showcasing its applications in pharmaceuticals, material analysis, or bio sectors.
<h3>Agenda</h3>
<h5>09:00 Welcome Introduction &amp; Video of Geoff Winkett , Agilent Technologies</h5>
<h5>9:10 The World of Microplastics Up to Date an Overview</h5>
<ul>
<li>Andreas Kerstan (Agilent Technologies)</li>
</ul>
<h5>09:30 Hot news on Agilent LDIR, new developments, and future perspective</h5>
<ul>
<li>Wesam Alwan , Darren Robey (Agilent Technologies)</li>
</ul>
<h5>09:50 Release of Plastic Additives and Microplastic Particles from Different Consumer Products into Water under Accelerated UV Weathering Conditions</h5>
<ul>
<li>Lars Hildebrandt (Scientist, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon)</li>
</ul>
Photodegradation of plastic products is known to accelerate weathering and the resulting release of chemical additives and particles to the environment, however these processes are complex. Here, eight different plastic consumer products were leached in double distilled water under exposure to strong ultraviolet (UV) light for ten days, and the chemical composition of the leachates was compared to their respective dark controls. The leachates and plastic particles were investigated with a wide battery of chemical analytical tools to broadly characterize the underlying processes and possible hazards. These covered (a) metal(loid) analysis, (b) microplastic analysis, (c) analysis of &gt;70 organic target analytes and (d) nontargeted screening of the extracts.
<h5>10:10 Identification of Polymers Using Machine Learning</h5>
<ul>
<li>Xin Tian (Scientific Researcher, KWR NL)</li>
</ul>
Microplastics and other polymers are found in the environment. For this reason, it is important to have reliable methods to identify them. Methods used to detect nano- and microplastics in the environment include Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, laser-directed infrared (LDIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/pyrolysis. These measurement techniques can provide a lot of information, but sometimes require a database with a lot of high-quality data to compare measurement results. Machine learning (especially classification models) can help improve data processing and accuracy.
Recent research has looked at how machine learning can help improve the accuracy of identification with infrared spectroscopy. Different computer models were tested and examined to see if the accuracy increases and if it does not require an unreasonable amount of computing power and time. This research focused on finding an effective method for identifying polymers in the environment based on their mid-infrared spectroscopic signals.
Polymers are identified by infrared spectroscopy by comparing their spectra with spectra in a database/library. This works well for new polymers, which are clean and barely degraded. Since polymers from the environment are actually degraded, comparing their infrared spectra with spectra in the library is difficult. This is because the spectra in the library often have large deviations from the spectra of the measured polymers. Increasing the number of spectra in the library is not possible because the number of spectra of environmentally degraded polymers is almost infinite. The study therefore looked at whether the problem of small data sets can be addressed using machine learning. The research presents a data enrichment technique to generate spectra of degraded polymers from single spectra of a limited number of samples. Four models were tested using these spectra to identify polymers. The study shows that all the models achieve high success rates, thereby facilitating the identification of polymers from environmental samples. Moreover, the research shows that it is not necessarily the most advanced computer model (particularly deep neural network models) that yields the best results.
<h5>10:30 From the River to the Sea: Microplastics in Sediments of the Thames River</h5>
<ul>
<li>Friederike Strock (Postdoc, German Federal Institute of Hydrology)</li>
</ul>
Microplastics have been investigated for over 45 years especially in the marine environment, but only in the past years research has started to focus on freshwater environments. In the frame of the H2020 LABPLAS project, sediments along the course of the Thames river in its freshwater and estuarune part were studied in order to better understand the sources, transport, distribution and impacts of plastic pollution and to detect the amount of plastics transport via the rivers into the sea.
In the frame of the project, a winter and a summer campaign were conducted 2022 and samples taken from 6 sites within the study area. Sediment samples were taken with a Van Veen grabber from the edge of the river, wet sieved into different compartments (10 100 µm, 100 1000 µm, &gt;1000 µm), density separated and the organic matter digested. The plastics from the sediments were characterized with a Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR). The preliminary results reveal that microplastics are present in all samples. The amount of particles varies significantly between the sampling sites showing the importance of industrial emissions and cities.
<h5>10:50 Good Laboratory Practices to Characterize Microplastics Using Quantum-Cascade Laser Reflectance Absorbance Spectrometry</h5>
<ul>
<li>Jose Manuel Andrade Garda (Professor Analytical Chemistry, University of A Corunna)</li>
</ul>
The nowadays broad societal interest in microplastic pollution demands urgent responses and actions. For these be possible politicians must set rules which, in turn, are not possible at all without sound scientific data. Unfortunately, there is a general feeling that the experimental results obtained so far are not still fully comparable and, further, that the monitoring field where hundreds or samples are taken is not being fully considered. Scientific studies and future regulations depend critically on a reliable identification of the polymers (if any) that constitute the suspicious particles under study. Out of the various analytical techniques to characterize them a novel one based on reflectance-absorbance spectrometry, commercialized as LDIR, outstands. It uses a tuneablemid-IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) to imaging a reflective microscopy slide or a metal-coated filter in a remarkable small timeframe. This communication is meant to present best practice guides to overcome some obstacles/difficulties in routine measurements, and open a path for field monitoring; among them: the adequacy of the spectral range, the variation of the peak&#39;s intensities with the size of the particles; the speed of the analysis as a function of the instrumental setup; the criterion to identify unknown spectra (a tiered approach is finally suggested); and how to differentiate fibers and fragments semiautomatically. Also, an empirical dependence of the depth of penetration of the QCL laser in common plastic particles is approached first time.
<h5>11:10 Chemical Characterization of Microplastics using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS)</h5>
<ul>
<li>Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo (Pull Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of A Corunna)</li>
</ul>
The implementation of monitoring programs for Microplastics requires reliable and standardisedmethods. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques are the most commonly used for Microplastics analysis. However, thermal analytical techniques are currently gaining popularity. This presentation focuses on the potential of mass-based thermal analytical techniques, in particular, Pyrolysis coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), for the accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics in environmental matrices. It outlines some advantages and good laboratory practices of this approach, the importance of method normalisation, and how it can provide detailed information on polymers and plastic additives.
<h5>11:20 Analysis of Fibrous Microplastics Using Laser Direct Infrared Imaging</h5>
<ul>
<li>Monique Greiner (Research Associate, Hohenstein Laboratories)</li>
</ul>
In the research field of microplastics the identification of their source is important in order to develop strategies to minimize the pollution. A major percentage of microplastics originates from textiles. One pathway into the environment are washing procedures because the textiles release fibers during the process. Therefore our aim was to find a fast and easy way to identify fibers. In our presentation we want to give insights in our approach to the analysis of fibrous microplastics with the LDIR 8700. We will talk about our strategies, the results we achieved and difficulties we faced.
<h5>11:40 Looking beyond the Polymer: Using Thermal Desorption GC MS to expand our understanding of Microplastics</h5>
<ul>
<li>Jan Peter Mayser (Market Specialist, Markes International)</li>
</ul>
Detecting and analysingmicroplastics in the environment is challenging. The method must be able to detect and distinguish between a large variety of polymers. Additives, such as hardeners, flame retardants and preservatives, used during the manufacturing process and other compounds, that can adhere to the surfaces of microplastics from their environment, can affect their toxicity assessment. These additives could be used to link the microplastics found in the environment to their original use or potentially even back to the manufacturer.
In this study, various salts were sampled and filtered and analyzed for their microplastic content. TD–GC–MS was used to identify and measure which concentration of the plastic PS, PET, PVC and Nylon 6 had been incorporated into the crystalline structure of the salt during evaporation. By using direct desorption and backflushing technology, a large sample size could be easily isolated from the lab environment during analysis while ensuring a large range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including the marker compounds for four polymers could be trapped and analyzed.
The VOC-profile of the microplastics not only gave information about the polymer and its concentration within the sample, but further information about the toxicity could be extracted. This enabled the determination and tentative identification of additional compounds in the samples, such as dimethyl ether, acrolein and cyclopentane. These are used in the process of manufacturing plastics, so could assist with identifying the source of the plastics. For the four analysed polymers distinct marker compounds could be identified and calibration curves determined for each polymer. In all of the real-world salt samples microplastics were identified, highlighting the ubiquitous nature of the microplastic contamination.
This further information about the origin of the polymer, as well as the origin of the microplastic particles can be gathered by investigating the full VOC-profile obtained by TD-GC-MS. This allows both additional polymer information and particle source characterization.
<h5>12:00 Tiny Problems</h5>
<ul>
<li>Roxana Sühring (Assistant Professor in Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University)</li>
</ul>
Microplastics have been on the front page of newspapers, a dominant topic for environmental research (and funding), and a recent focus for regulatory action across the globe. Their potential impacts have been classed as a planetary boundary threat and new studies are published daily, reporting microplastics virtually anywhere on the planet. But despite numerous publications, there are still a lot of open questions on how to effectively and reproducibly characterize microplastics. How can microplastic characterization be automized? What is the impact of additives or weathering on the characterization accuracy?
In this presentation I will provide an overview and the first results of a research collaboration between Agilent technologies and the Emerging contaminants lab at Toronto Metropolitan University that works on addressing some of these questions. Our research aims to create a versatile microplastic library using weathered and new plastics commonly found in the environment. This library will additionally be used as a training set for developing automated particle characterization for the LDIR.
<h5>12:20 Identification of Microplastic Particles in Soil Using LDIR</h5>
<ul>
<li>Martine Graf, PhD (Student &amp; Senior Technician, Bangor University)</li>
</ul>
The use of agricultural plastic has become increasingly concerning in an environmental setting in recent years; in Europe alone, an estimated 2.5 million tones of plastic mulch films are used each year. The use of mulch films for crop production has been promoted by governments worldwide due to its many benefits, however the removal of these films from the soil can be difficult due to their poor mechanical strength and fragmentation, and barriers such as poor incentives for farmers and underdeveloped infrastructure for collection and disposal. The latter often leading to the films being discarded or incinerated along field margins, or ploughed back into the fields, leading to an accumulation of plastic legacy in soil. To evaluate the microplastic pollution levels in agricultural soils, we are i ) conducting a global soil survey in all partner countries; ii) assessing the degradation and fragmentation of conventional and biodegradable plastic mulch films in soil, and measuring the resulting microplastic production rate; and iii) measure the degradation and movement of microplastic in soil after repeated application. Microplastics are extracted from soil using targeted methods for different polymer types, and analysed using fluorescent microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and LDIR spectroscopy.
<h5>12:40 Wrap up and open discussion</h5>

Agilent Technologies: Agilent Microplastics Virtual Symposium 2023

Agilent Microplastics Virtual Symposium 2023

Explore various crucial topics related to the analysis of microplastics, covering areas such as sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and evaluation.

Do you face difficulty in selecting the most appropriate GC column for your analysis? Are you always wondering which column will work best for your application or if the existing column will work for your application or not?
In this webinar, we will discuss:
<ul>
<li>Things to consider while choosing GC Columns
</li>
<li>GC Column types
</li>
<li>Stationary Phase Polymers
</li>
<li>Low Bleed Phases
</li>
<li>Ultra Inert columns
</li>
<li>Suitable columns for Critical Applications
</li>
</ul>
Join us in this live webinar to discuss on various aspects of GC column selection.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Sunil B Lakhmapure (Technical Support Specialist, Agilent Technologies)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Sunil holds 19 year plus experience in the analytical field with major exposure to LC/GC with Single Quad, Triple Quad and high resolution (QToF) mass spectroscopy. Started career in Pharma R&amp;D as a scientist with hands on experience on high end instruments like LC/MS, XRD &amp; NMR. Developed &amp; published application notes using Chromatographic techniques on real world samples/issues at various levels.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Practical Advice on GC Column Selection

Practical Advice on GC Column Selection

Thermal desorption and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is a well-established and proven analytical method for materials characterization.
In combination with GC-MS, thermal desorption is used to identify additives and contaminants, and pyrolysis is a key tool for identifying involatile materials such as polymers, lacquers, paints, adhesives, plastics, and synthetic fibers.
This webinar will explain the basics of Py-GC-MS and how it can be applied to applications such as quality control, troubleshooting, and deformulation using applications of the Frontier Lab micro-furnace Multi-Shot Pyrolyzer combined with JEOL single quadrupole and high-resolution time-of-flight GC-MS systems
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
<ul>
<li>How pyrolysis GC-MS is used to identify polymers, additives, and contaminants.
</li>
<li>how hard and soft ionization methods provide complementary information.
</li>
<li>about software tools and interpretation libraries for analysis
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rojin Belganeh
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rojin Belganeh is the Technical Director at Frontier Laboratories Americas. As a former user of Frontier products with more than ten years of experience in analytical instrumentation, Rojin is passionate about creating awareness about Frontier technology and providing technical support to users. Rojin graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She started her profession as an analytical chemist working with various analytical instruments, such as Pyrolysis GCMS, TGA, FTIR, and X-Rays for material characterization, polymer identification, and contamination analysis. She also holds an MBA degree concentrating in strategic marketing.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Robert “Chip” Cody
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Chip Cody has worked at JEOL USA, Inc. in Peabody, MA for the past 34 years and is currently Principal Scientist. Dr. Cody is responsible for developing the trapped-ion tandem-in-time MS/MS and MSn techniques, laser-desorption in a trapped ion mass spectrometer, Electron Impact Excitation of Ions from Organics (EIEIO), and is a coinventor of the DART ion source. He has consulted with NASA on the Mars 2020 Rover project, served as Vice-President for Arrangements for the American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), was awarded the 2011 Anachem Award and a 2012 Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award, and is currently on the Editorial Board for the ASMS journal and a member of the ASMS History Committee.
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Presenter: Bryan Katzenmeyer
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Bryan Katzenmeyer has over 15 years of experience specializing in mass spectrometry and separation techniques for characterizing materials, polymers, monomers, and small molecules. He obtained his Ph.D. in polymer/analytical chemistry at The University of Akron under Distinguished Professor Chrys Wesdemiotis and his M.S. and B.S. in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Penn State, respectively. Bryan joined JEOL USA, Inc. in 2023, where he currently manages business development for mass spectrometry with an emphasis on the polymer and chemical industrial markets.
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JEOL - Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis-GC-MS for Deformulation and Material Characterization

Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis-GC-MS for Deformulation and Material Characterization

Basics of Py-GC-MS and how it can be applied to applications such as quality control, troubleshooting, and deformulation.