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

Metrohm

Agilent Technologies

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Frontier Lab

Restek Corporation

SelectScience

Shimadzu Corporation

Waters Corporation

Historically, helium has been the most widely and most preferred carrier gas due to its inertness, good purity, excellent performance, and well-established methodologies. However, being a limited natural resource and due to increased demand, Helium prices have increased exponentially. Under these circumstances, lab managers and industry leaders are forced to look for carrier-gas alternatives.
The good news is that Hydrogen can be a safe and superior carrier gas for gas chromatography, and offers several benefits such as increased speed, improved detection limits, longer column lifetime, easy availability, and lower costs. 
Tune into the webinar to learn about:
<ul>
<li>Why and how to switch to hydrogen carrier gas</li>
<li>Related example analyses and GC applications</li>
<li>Features of Shimadzu Nexis GC-2030 that support the use of hydrogen as carrier gas</li>
<li>And how PEAK Scientific hydrogen gas generators can support your GC analysis</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Ed Connor (Product Manager, PEAK Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Naresh Kumar Sharma (System GC Business Unit Manager, Shimadzu Middle East &amp; Africa FZE)
</blockquote>

Shimadzu: Beat the Helium Shortage - Switching to Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas for GC

Beat the Helium Shortage - Switching to Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas for GC

Shimadzu is thrilled to collaborate with PEAK Scientific for a webinar on ''Beat the Helium Shortage – Switching to Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas for GC''.

Switching to Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas for GC

The personal care and cosmetics industry is not yet as strictly regulated as the pharmaceutical industry. However, there are drivers for improved product safety and more rigorous and frequent testing. Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) can help manufacturers meet this challenge with a cost-efficient, fast, and simple to use solution: NIRS is a non-destructive technology; no chemicals and reagents are needed, and results for several physical and chemical key parameters are obtained at the touch of a screen in a few seconds.
In this webinar, Maria Cartes and Andreas Agerer from Metrohm AG explain the principles of NIRS and present several application examples from the personal care and cosmetics industry. Participants in this webinar will learn how NIRS is implemented in the QC laboratory to help their companies save time and bring down the costs of their routine analytics. The webinar will be followed by a Q&amp;A Session.
Key learning points of this webinar:
<ul>
<li>The principles of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: how does it work, what can you measure, and what are the limitations?</li>
<li>How can I make NIRS work in my laboratory?</li>
<li>Typical applications of NIRS for QC of personal care products: What are the time and cost savings?</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Maria Cartes (Product Specialist Spectroscopy, Metrohm International Headquarters)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Maria Cartes studied chemistry. After finishing her PhD studies on ethylene polymerization at the University of Seville (Spain), she moved to Switzerland to work as a postdoc. In 2021, Maria joined Metrohm where she works as Product Specialist in the Competence Center Spectroscopy, providing international support and product training for NIRS.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Andreas Agerer (Application Specialist NIRS, Metrohm International Headquarters)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Andreas Agerer is an Application Specialist at Metrohm AG, working in the Competence Center Spectroscopy since 2018. In this time, he has been responsible for developing NIRS methods tailored to new application areas and supporting sales teams during feasibility studies. Andreas completed his university graduate work in the area of phosphoprotein determination using NIR and IR spectroscopy.
</blockquote>

Metrohm: Quality Control of Personal Care Products by NIRS

Quality Control of Personal Care Products by NIRS

We will explain the principles of NIRS and present several application examples from the personal care and cosmetics industry.

Join our webinar to learn about Py-GCMS and its applications for 3D Printing Polymers Characterization
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr Karthikeyan Sathrugnan (Consultant [Sales and Technical Support for SEA/India at Frontier Laboratories Ltd., Japan)
</blockquote>

Frontier Lab: Characterization of 3D Printing Polymers using Py-GCMS

Characterization of 3D Printing Polymers using Py-GCMS

Join our webinar to learn about Py-GCMS and its applications for 3D Printing Polymers Characterization

An optimized GC application will lead to more reproducible and better data quality. It can potentially increase instrument uptime and lead to better productivity with reduced costs.
In this webinar we’ll explore different aspects of setting up an application, and how a little understanding of what is happening during a GC analysis can help with optimization.
In this third part of a series, Dr. Mark Badger will present on the following topics:
<ul>
<li>Learn what can be optimized in a GC application.</li>
<li>Determine the effect of changing certain parameters on chromatography.</li>
<li>Define effective method translation.</li>
<li>Identify what tools are available to help with optimization and method development.</li>
</ul>
Please join us for another practical webinar on GC maintenance!

Restek Corporation: An Ounce of Prevention: Part 3 - Take a Little Time to Optimize Your Applications

An Ounce of Prevention: Part 3 - Take a Little Time to Optimize Your Applications

The different aspects of setting up an application, and how a little understanding of what is happening during a GC analysis can help with optimization.

Take a Little Time to Optimize Your Applications

During this second session of a four-part ‘Fundamentals of Spectroscopy’ course, we will break down some common spectroscopic techniques (UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Raman scattering amongst others), examine how they work at a relatively low level, and discuss what they can be used to learn in different situations. We will pay special attention to the historical developments of these techniques, particularly the scientific and economic motivations that drove the people who created and refined them.
Key learning objectives
<ul>
<li>Understand the concept of absorption spectroscopy, the design of an absorption spectrometer, and see how UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy can be used in quantifying protein concentration.
</li>
<li>Differentiate between the different types of luminescence, specifically photoluminescence vs. fluorescence and understand the basics of fluorescence and phosphorescence spectrometers. Become familiar with applications using time-resolved fluorescence, solvatochromic shifts and Förster resonance energy transfer.
</li>
<li>Learn the basics of Raman spectroscopy, and the design of a Raman spectrometer. Understand the units used in Raman spectroscopy and learn how Raman specificity can be used to measure various physical and chemical properties in materials.
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter Shayne Harrel (Andor Technology)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Shayne Harrel is a spectroscopy specialist for the Americas at Andor. He holds a PhD in physical chemistry from Yale University where he studied dynamical processes in charge transfer systems, magnetic materials and semiconductors using time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy. Prior to joining Andor, he was a senior applications engineer at MKS Instruments and has held previous positions as Chief Scientist-Americas for Izon Science, Senior Applications Scientist for Olympus Corporation, and as a chemist for the US Food and Drug Administration.
</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: Spectroscopy techniques in practice: Methods and motivations

Spectroscopy techniques in practice: Methods and motivations

We will break down UV/VIS absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and Raman scattering amongst others and examine how they work.

There is an ever-increasing awareness of the environmental impact of our everyday activities, motiving many industries to assess the environmental impact of their current practices and build strategies to make their operations more sustainable.
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s long-standing mission is to help our customers make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. While scientific analytical laboratories are providing insights to some of the world’s most pressing issues, many activities in the laboratory carry an environmental cost, as they often involve heavy use of chemicals, gases and high power consumption.
This webinar will give an overview of innovative features of Thermo Scientific Gas Chromatographic systems supporting laboratories in their operational sustainability through savings and waste reduction. 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Daniela Cavagnino (Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Daniela Cavagnino received a Master Degree in Chemistry at the University of Milan, Italy. She spent several years in R&amp;D laboratories working on GC technology innovation and more than 20 years promoting GC/GCMS technology and applications with Thermo Fisher Scientific. She has authored for technical publications and lectures at international conferences.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Tim Anderson (Product Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Tim Anderson has been in the analytical science industry for 20 years, including ten years in the lab developing and validating GC-MS methods in the environmental, industrial chemical, food testing, and pharmaceutical industries. Tim joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2018 where he is the product manager of the single and triple quadruple GC-MS product portfolio.
</blockquote>

Thermo Scientific: Helping Laboratories Work Toward Sustainability

Helping Laboratories Work Toward Sustainability

Innovative Thermo Scientific Gas Chromatographic systems supporting laboratories in their operational sustainability through savings and waste reduction. 

We will discuss the capabilties of Agilent&#39;s Vaya - a handheld Raman spectrometer utilizing spatially offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) - and demonstrate its power to perform through-barrier measurements.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Scott Melis, PhD (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Scott Melis has a PHD in Physics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and started with Agilent in 2021 as a Molecular Spectroscopy Application Scientist. In his graduate work, Scott studied nanoparticle formation and growth for a variety of applications. Projects that he worked with include developing processes to deposit and characterize semiconducting molecular nano-cocrystals for use in optoelectronic devices as well as controlling polymer nanoparticle size through rapid mixing conditions.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Tips For Working With Agilent's Vaya Handheld Raman Spectrometer

Tips For Working With Agilent's Vaya Handheld Raman Spectrometer

We will discuss the capabilties of Agilent's Vaya - a handheld Raman spectrometer utilizing spatially offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS)

Tips For Agilent's Vaya Handheld Raman Spectrometer

Review of the potential use of FTIR technology for the identification and quantification of sugars in alcoholic beverages and of sugars and sweeteners in food industry products such as juices and soft drinks, including examples of the use of concentration prediction models.
<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: Use of FTIR Technology for the analysis of Sugars and Sweeteners in alcoholic Beverages and in the Food Industry

Use of FTIR Technology for the analysis of Sugars and Sweeteners in alcoholic Beverages and in the Food Industry

Use FTIR technology for the identification and quantification of sugars in alcoholic beverages and of sugars and sweeteners in food industry product.

FTIR Technology for the analysis of Sugars and Sweeteners

Validate your method with a single mouse click! No need to export data into statistic programs or Excel. All steps from analysing the sample, calculating the statistical results and the reporting, everything is done in your validated Empower CDS.

Waters Corporation: Empower The Method Validation Manager (MVM)

Empower The Method Validation Manager (MVM)

Validate your method with a single mouse click! No need to export data into statistic programs or Excel.

Would you drive a car without a dashboard? And your Empower CDS Network? How much time and resources do you loose because you are not informed on time and only find out when you look under the hood?

Waters Corporation: waters_connect System Monitoring - the latest addition to the Empower family