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

HORIBA Scientific

Agilent Technologies

GERSTEL

SepSolve Analytical

SelectScience

Waters Corporation

Cleaning verification is a regulatory requirement for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry to produce quality medicines and ensures that there is no potentially harmful cross-contamination. FTIR spectroscopy provide a practical and economical solution for contamination detection and cleaning verification.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Yanqia Wang, PhD (Application Engineer, Molecular Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Yanqia Wang started working for Agilent Technologies Inc. as a FTIR application Engineer in 2013, providing pre-&amp;post-sale application support. The products he covers from Bench-top FTIR microscopes to various Mobile FTIR spectrometers. Dr. Wang received his PhD of analytical chemistry from Duke University in 2004, doing dynamic IR spectroscopy research. Then he joined Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics at Duke University, doing Tissue Raman spectrometer instrumentation. Since 2007, Dr. Wang worked for Avery Dennison Corp. as a spectroscopist, providing molecular analytical support to the research &amp; development.
</blockquote>

Agilnt Technologies: Cleaning Verification with FTIR Spectroscopy

Cleaning Verification with FTIR Spectroscopy

FTIR spectroscopy provide a practical and economical solution for contamination detection and cleaning verification.

Learn how GERSTEL’s SDA method can help solve your critical challenges related to perceived aromas and quality control.
Presenter: Nicole Kfoury, Ph.D. (Application Scientist, GERSTEL, Inc)

Gerstel: Sensory Directed Analysis: A Method for Identifying Off-Odors

Sensory Directed Analysis: A Method for Identifying Off-Odors

Learn how GERSTEL’s SDA method can help solve your critical challenges related to perceived aromas and quality control.

Sensory Directed Analysis for Identifying Off-Odors

In this third session of a four-part ‘Fundamentals of Spectroscopy’ course, having previously covered the ‘why’, we’ll now focus on the ‘how’. There is currently a dizzying array of tools available for spectroscopy, but the fundamental goal remains the same.
Here we will discuss the current state-of-the-art common spectroscopy components – spectrometers, detectors, and associated optics – as well as their historical development. We will discuss some of the technological breakthroughs that have made the heroic measurements of yesterday commonplace practice today, as well as how different equipment has evolved to suit the particular needs of different experiments.
Key learning objectives
<ul>
<li>Discover the function of a spectrograph and how the earliest spectrographs achieved this</li>
<li>Understand the difference between a prism and grating spectrograph and learn why grating spectrographs are significantly more common</li>
<li>Consider what is meant by “dispersion” in a spectrometer, what is spectral resolution, and how the two concepts relate to each other</li>
</ul>
Who should attend?
<ul>
<li>Academic researchers</li>
<li>R&amp;D scientists</li>
<li>Lab technicians</li>
<li>Principal investigators</li>
<li>Laboratory, facilities or corporate managers</li>
<li>Postdoctoral research assistants</li>
<li>Undergraduate and PhD students</li>
<li>Engineers or software engineers</li>
<li>Teaching fellows</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Adam Wise (Andor Technology)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Adam Wise is an applications scientist at Andor Technology, specializing in spectroscopy and scientific cameras. He earned his PhD working with John Grey at the University of New Mexico, studying Raman spectroscopy of organic semiconductors. After his postdoctoral research at UMass Amherst, Wise entered the field of optical instrumentation, and continues to support research by helping scientists get the right cutting-edge tools.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Georgina Wynne Hughes (Editorial Team)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Georgina studied at Birmingham University where she gained a BSc in Biomedical Science, and an MSc by Research in Cancer and Genomic Sciences, which focused on defective autophagy in rare neurodegenerative diseases. As a member of the Editorial team, she now plays an integral role in shaping the content on SelectScience.
</blockquote>

SelectScience: Optimizing equipment for optical spectroscopy

Optimizing equipment for optical spectroscopy

In this third session of a four-part ‘Fundamentals of Spectroscopy’ course, having previously covered the ‘why’, we’ll now focus on the ‘how’.

Optical microscopy is very common technique for visualization and characterization at the micron scale. Many modalities exist to highlight different features. However, the chemical information is almost always missing. Raman spectroscopy is a complementary technique that can provide chemical information about the sample.
During this webinar, we will present how these different microscopy modalities, combined with Raman spectroscopy, make Raman microscopy so powerful.

HORIBA Scientific: What makes Raman microscopy the ideal coupling method between optical microscopy and chemical characterization?

What makes Raman microscopy the ideal coupling method between optical microscopy and chemical characterization?

We will present how these different microscopy modalities, combined with Raman spectroscopy, make Raman microscopy so powerful.

Raman microscopy: optical microscopy & characterization?

The global push towards a circular economy has resulted in an increase in the use of recycled materials to reduce waste, with manufacturers being urged to produce or use more post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics, especially for food and beverage packaging.
However, rigorous quality control (QC) is needed to ensure the recycled plastics do not produce volatile emissions that could be harmful or have a negative impact on the packaged product (e.g., malodours).
In this webinar, we will demonstrate how to overcome low sensitivity, poor detection of compounds and slow processes when analysing recycled plastics for bad odours.

SepSolve: How to analyse odours in post-consumer recycled plastics

How to analyse odours in post-consumer recycled plastics

We will demonstrate how to overcome low sensitivity, poor detection of compounds and slow processes when analysing recycled plastics for bad odours.

A key aspect of durable data is staying current with technologies and underlying platforms. With each new release of Empower Software, you have the opportunity to explore new functionality that will support your operations, as you strive to increase productivity and efficiency while also reducing risk across your entire organization. Whether you are a system administrator, scientist, or in quality, the release of Empower 3.8.0 brings you a new set of tools to support your goals.
Key points of discussion will be:
<ul>
<li>Updates to System Suitability</li>
<li>New features to simplify work and streamline workflows</li>
<li>Compliance and quality enhancements</li>
</ul>
Join us for a live discussion as we explore Empower 3.8.0. As always, don’t forget to bring your questions for this exclusive opportunity to ask our experts anything about Empower Software
<blockquote>
Presenter: Neil Lander (Principal Product Manager, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Neil has worked for Waters Corporation since 1994 and has held a variety of positions including Technical Support Specialist, Technical Trainer, Manager Customer Education and currently, Principal Marketing Manager focusing on Informatics solutions. He provides internal support for Empower Chromatography Data System and is focused on developing laboratory software solutions that help organizations achieve their scientific and operational objectives. Prior to joining Waters, he was an analytical chemist where he gained experience in both the cosmetics and specialty chemical industries.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Sukhdev Bangar (Principal Product Manager – HPLC, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Sukhdev Bangar is a Principal Product Manager at Waters Corporation in Waters QA/QC Divison. He has over 15 years’ experience in the area of LC and LC-MS applications. Starting life in industry at GSK working with OTC treatments of Dermatological ailments, Inhalation drug testing at 3M, followed by DMPK at AstraZeneca. In 2005 he joined Waters in the Global MS product management group working with R&amp;D to evaluate new MS hardware and software features from an end user perspective. In 2010 he joined the Americas MS demo lab and after a few years became the Team Leader for the Pharma group, leading the efforts in Quan/Qual application Demo’s. Since 2019 Sukhdev has held his current role working out of Waters HQ. His responsibilities include Waters next generation HPLC product line.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lauren Wood (Empower Customer Success Manager, Waters Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Lauren is the Empower Customer Success Manager and is an Empower subject matter expert (SME). Lauren’s concentration is customer success through focus on the support process and defect resolution process for issues pertaining to Empower and/or third-party instrument drivers. Lauren liaises between customers and Marketing, Support, Engineering and CXKM to understand impact and to work with internal teams to prioritize, document, communicate, and resolve software issues. Lauren’s previous roles at Waters during her 30-year tenure have included phone support in Technical Service, Empower training in Customer Education, and Empower product management.
</blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Empower Tips Special Edition: Ask Me Anything About Our Newest Empower Release - Empower 3.8.0

Empower Tips Special Edition: Ask Me Anything About Our Newest Empower Release - Empower 3.8.0

Join us for a live discussion as we explore Empower 3.8.0. As always, don’t forget to bring your questions about Empower Software.

Waters Empower Tips: Newest Release - Empower 3.8.0

Complement your Empower CDS with sample management, equipment inventory and data archiving.
<ul>
<li>How isolated is your Empower CDS network?</li>
<li>Do you manually transcribe sample information?</li>
<li>Do maintain paper logbooks for your system usage?</li>
<li>Do you deal with the life of your data after processing and reporting?</li>
</ul>

Waters Corporation: CDS and LMS integrated to single product

CDS and LMS integrated to single product

Complement your Empower CDS with sample management, equipment inventory and data archiving.

<ul>
<li>Wait what?! Who knew!? There are so many things that a mass spec can do.
</li>
<li>I&#39;ve used it for years, yes this may be true.
</li>
<li>I&#39;ve processed some samples, more than a few.
</li>
<li>But between me and you, I had no idea all the things it could do!
</li>
<li>From sample prep to separation, you just won&#39;t believe…
</li>
<li>All of the tips and tricks we have up our sleeve.
</li>
<li>So, take a few minutes, about 15 should do.
</li>
<li>And learn all the things your mass spec can do.
</li>
</ul>
Building a calibration curve in a quantitative method is required for most LC/TQ studies. In MassHunter Quantitative software, the calibration curve basics will be reviewed and a convenient and quick method for importing the calibration levels from CSV file will be featured.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Hui Zhao, PhD (LC/MS Applications Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Hui has 13 years of industry experience developing and validating analytical methods for food/feed nutrition, food safety, dietary supplements and botanicals testing, using a variety of analytical techniques including LC-TQ, LC-QTOF, LC-DAD and GC-MS and a breadth of sample preparation methodologies. She has worked as a Research Scientist at Monsanto, EPL-Bioanalytical Services, Tate &amp; Lyle, Inc. and Lead Staff Scientist at Covance Food Solutions. She holds a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry from Lanzhou University in China and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Missouri.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Prior to becoming a Pre-Sales AE, Hui worked as an LCMS application scientist in Agilent’s global market development group where her primary focus was food and environmental market development.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Karen Yannell (LC/MS Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Karen E. Yannell is a LC/MS Application Engineer at Agilent Technologies. She is an expert in small molecule high throughput analysis by triple quadrupole (TQ) and quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry for applied markets. Her recent work has focused on developing routine Q-TOF workflows for both expert and non-expert users alike. Previously, Karen worked on forensic, metabolomics, and biomarker discovery applications with ambient ionization sources. She received her PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University where studied under the advisement of Prof. R. Graham Cooks. Outside of the laboratory, she enjoys cooking unique dishes and hiking along the beach with her dog.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Quant Made Easy: Building a Calibration Curve with Agilent MassHunter Quantitative Analysis

Quant Made Easy: Building a Calibration Curve with Agilent MassHunter Quantitative Analysis

In MassHunter Quantitative software, the calibration curve basics will be reviewed and a convenient and quick method for importing...

Building a Calibration with Agilent MassHunter Quantitative

The Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer can be used for the application of contaminant analysis in drinking water and waste water.
Join me as we explore discuss various accessories simplifying the creation of calibration curves for different key analytes such as cyanides, phenols, detergents, and hexavalent chromium.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rogelio García Juárez (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</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.

Agilent Technologies: Analysis of contaminants in water and waste water by UV-Vis

Analysis of contaminants in water and waste water by UV-Vis

Various accessories simplifying the creation of calibration curves for different key analytes such as cyanides, phenols, detergents, and hexavalent chromium.

All generally-required parameters for microplastics analysis, e.g., size, shape, and identification, are done using the Agilent 8700 LDIR.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Louis Tisinger, PhD (Application Engineer, Molecular Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Louis (Lou) Tisinger has a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Miami University in Oxford Ohio, where his graduate research involved the study of ATR imaging and microscope performance in vibrational spectroscopy. Most of his career has been related to pre- and post-sales support of FTIR spectrometers, microscopes, imaging systems, and thermal analytical instruments, focusing on analyzing customer samples, demonstrations, post-sales training, troubleshooting, and R&amp;D.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Turnkey Microplastics Analysis

Turnkey Microplastics Analysis

All generally-required parameters for microplastics analysis, e.g.,  size, shape, and identification, are done using the Agilent 8700 LDIR.