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

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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.

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

Agilent Technologies

Bruker

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Your quest for a lab system to increase the automation and achieve a higher throughput is now compromised by the requirements for remote working and social distancing.
At the same time, a lab cannot operate without people actually being physically in the lab. So how can we minimize staff presence on premises while maintaining operations? In this session, we will discuss how to balance these two objectives and how to optimize working remotely including discussions around data security and operative aspects. Key Learning Objectives. Learn what it takes to successfully implement an end-to-end solution to manage all content, context, and results in the lab. Discuss aspects to consider to evaluate, implement and operate a remote Lab Workflow solution. Tips for how to make physical and digital processes come together.
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Presenter: Nicolas Louvet (Software Product Manager, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Nicolas Louvet joined Agilent Technologies in 2005 as an ELN Services Consultant in the Software &amp; Informatics Division, became the Product Manager for OpenLab ELN, and currently serves as the Software Product Manager for SLIMS. He has more than 15 years of experience working directly with clients needing to digitalize their laboratory processes. His area of expertise is focused on workflow and content management in the laboratory.
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Agilent Technologies: Laboratory Workflow Solutions: What to expect when you’re away from the lab?

Laboratory Workflow Solutions: What to expect when you’re away from the lab?

How to balance these two objectives and how to optimize working remotely including discussions around data security and operative aspects.

What to expect when you’re away from the lab?

The modern laboratory has data collected and reported from a variety of different instruments and locations.
Agilent’s Enterprise Content Manager can store that data and make metadata available for searching through a variety of data specific filters or customized PDF templates. The Metadata ReUse program can then help query and combine that data into an XML/Excel format for further reporting.
Key Learning Objectives
<ul>
<li>Introduction to the ECM-XT Web Client Interface
</li>
<li>MetaData Reuse tool features overview
</li>
<li>XML/Excel Export function of the the MetaData Reuse Tool
</li>
</ul>
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Presenter: Richard Mutkoski (Laboratory Informatics Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Richard Mutkoski began with Agilent (HP) in 1995. He has been an Application Engineer in Agilent’s Laboratory Informatics for the past 18 years. Prior to his career at Agilent Rich spent 12 years in a variety of small pharmaceutical firms in both R&amp;D and QA/QC capacities affording him first-hand knowledge of those workflows, bottlenecks and challenges.
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Agilent Technologies: The Power of Using Existing Meta-Data for Lab Wide Reporting

The Power of Using Existing Meta-Data for Lab Wide Reporting

Introduction to the ECM-XT Web Client Interface.

The promises of the digital lab are enticing but getting there sometimes seems daunting.
This presentation will discuss how to digitize lab operations from start to finish, which is especially relevant in a world where working remotely is becoming increasingly common. In the course of this journey, how can you realize your aspirations and create sustainable outcomes, all while dealing with varied lab environments? The good news is that you can start today. This talk will show how you can prepare the ground for a digital lab, how to improve efficiency of your lab operations, and what it takes to implement an end-to-end solution to manage all content, context, and results in the lab.
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Presenter: Nicolas Louvet (Software Product Manager, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Nicolas Louvet joined Agilent Technologies in 2005 as an ELN Services Consultant in the Software &amp; Informatics Division, became the Product Manager for OpenLab ELN, and currently serves as the Software Product Manager for SLIMS. He has more than 15 years of experience working directly with clients needing to digitalize their laboratory processes. His area of expertise is focused on workflow and content management in the laboratory.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: How to Achieve a Fully Digital, End-to-End Analytical Workflow with CDS, ELN and LIMS

How to Achieve a Fully Digital, End-to-End Analytical Workflow with CDS, ELN and LIMS

How to digitize lab operations from start to finish, which is especially relevant in a world where working remotely is becoming increasingly common.

How to Achieve a Fully Digital, End-to-End Workflow

Find out about the next generation of software from Agilent.
OpenLab CDS can streamline your lab operations with a single, secure data system that combines chromatography and mass spectrometry into one software platform. OpenLab CDS can control your Agilent GC, LC, single quadrupole GC/MS, LC/MS instruments as well as other vendors’ instruments in the lab, and save substantial time managing software and training staff.
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Presenter: Shawn Anderson (Director of Marketing, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Shawn Anderson is the Associate Vice President of Marketing for the Software and Informatics Division at Agilent Technologies. He has over 28 years of experience in the chromatography and purification/separations market space. His career has developed from bench work in biotech to field support, applications, sales, product management, and product marketing. Shawn is proud to have “learned and led” at some of the most well-respected vendors in the industry such as GE Healthcare, Dionex, Bio-Rad, and now Agilent, designing, launching, and marketing next generation hardware, software and consumable products. He is passionate about end-user and customer voice and believes that the lost sale is often the best learning opportunity. Finally, he is an optimistic futurist, and looks forward to the continuing democratization of science and technology.
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Agilent Technologies: OpenLab CDS-The future of Agilent Chromatography Data System for HPLC, GC, GCMS and LCMS

OpenLab CDS-The future of Agilent Chromatography Data System for HPLC, GC, GCMS and LCMS

Find out about the next generation of software from Agilent.

OpenLab CDS The future of Agilent Chromatography Data System

Pharmaceutical products come into contact with a wide range of polymeric materials on their journey from the production line to patients, with possible leaching of potentially dangerous substances into products, possibly compromising the stability, or even worse, the pharmacological activity. Extractable and leachable (E&amp;L) compounds are the focus of rigorous testing workflows to ensure therapeutics are safe and meet regulatory requirements.This webcast will present an E&amp;L study aiming to address the challenges to achieve sufficient sensitivity and selectivity for unknown analytes potentially present in the sample.A method has been optimized with the use of static headspace autosampling coupled with a HRAM GC–MS, resulting in a powerful technique to assess and quantify potentially dangerous untargeted volatile extractables down to trace level. Very high mass accuracy with errors of 1 ppm or better, even for smaller molecules and fragments, increases confidence in structure elucidation of unknown compounds.Key Learning Objectives:<ul><li>Learn about streamlining workflow for organic volatile impurities from contact materials</li><li>Learn how to optimize headspace sampling parameters with a strategy based on the theory of gas phase chemistry</li><li>Discover the benefits of using HRAM GC–MS for untargeted or unknown impurities</li></ul>Who should attend:<ul><li>Scientists, chemists, and analysts involved in E&amp;L testing</li><li>Laboratory managers in the pharmaceutical industry, CMOs, CROs and contract services</li><li>Researchers and method developers interested in E&amp;L methodology</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Xiaotend (Shelton) Gong (Instrumentation Chemist, Extractable and Leachable (E&amp;L) Testing, SGS)Xiaoteng Gong received his Master’s degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and has worked on food contact materials at the National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With extensive experience in analytical chemistry, he currently is an instrumentation chemist at SGS specializing in extractables and leachables (E&amp;L) studies for pharmaceutical packaging. He has more than five years of experience using headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).Presenter:&nbsp;Daniela Cavagnino (Marketing Manager, GC-MS, Thermo Fisher Scientific)Daniela Cavagnino received a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Milan, Italy. She started her career in gas chromatography at Thermo Fisher Scientific, spending several years in the R&amp;D laboratories working on GC technology innovation. Then, she conveyed her technical background into product management and marketing management roles, and she now has more than 15 years of experience promoting GC and GC–MS technology and applications in several different market segments. During her career, she has participated as an author and co-author in technical publications and as a lecturer at international conferences.</blockquote>

Thermo Fisher Scientific: Increased Confidence in Untargeted Volatile E&L Analysis by Static Headspace Sampling Coupled to HRAM GC-MS

Increased Confidence in Untargeted Volatile E&L Analysis by Static Headspace Sampling Coupled to HRAM GC-MS

This webcast presents an E&L study aiming to address the challenges to achieve sufficient sensitivity and selectivity for unknown analytes 

Untargeted Volatile E&L Analysis via Headspace GC-MS

FT-IR spectroscopy is an easy-to-use and nondestructive analysis tool for chemical identification, quantification, composition analysis, optical characterization and many more. Depending on measurement geometry (beside transmission measurement) and optical properties of sample materials FT-IR can be very surface sensitive. It provides plenty of surface analysis techniques with different penetration depth to qualitatively or quantitatively characterize the upper layer of a sample, to follow surface reactions or to observe surface emissions etc. Depending on sample form, e.g. powder, gel, liquid, crystal blocks, coatings, micro sized samples or else, different FT-IR techniques can be applied.In this Webinar You Will Learn:<ul><li>Attenuated Total Reflection - ATR</li><li>Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy - DRIFT</li><li>Specular Reflectance</li><li>InfraRed Reflection Absorption Spectroscopy - IRRAS</li><li>Emission Spectroscopy</li><li>Photo Acoustic Spectroscopy - PAS</li></ul>Who Should Attend?<ul><li>Surface analysis experts (e.g. material science, polymers, automotive…)</li><li>Spectroscopy experts (e.g. academia, physicists, chemists…)</li><li>Microscopy experts (e.g. research, pharmaceuticals, electronics… )</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Xia StammerDr. Xia Stammer studied Physical Chemistry and focused on surface functionalization and characterization during her PhD and research activities. She has been FT-IR application specialist since almost 10 years at Bruker and is specialized for FT-IR research solutions for catalysis, material science and surface analysis.Presenter:&nbsp;Dr. Inga Köhler&nbsp;Dr. Inga Köhler studied Geology and Paleontology and acquired her PhD with focus on Early Earth. Inga has a strong interest in communicating scientific topics to the public and continues to contribute to Archean research. At Bruker, she works as a Scientific Content Creator for FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy as well as microscopy.</blockquote>

Bruker: Shed Light on Surface | How to use FT-IR to characterize surfaces  

Shed Light on Surface | How to use FT-IR to characterize surfaces

In this webinar, you will learn about various FT-IR techniques for surface characterization.

How to use FT-IR to characterize surfaces  

In this webinar we will show you:<ul><li>Why FT-IR is the method of choice for particle-driven analysis of microplastics.</li><li>Demands and requirements to establish a microplastic lab based on FT-IR technology.</li><li>Necessary steps in sample preparation from various sources.</li><li>Theoretical basics to understand the idea behind FT-IR analysis of microparticles.</li><li>That there are comprehensive, complete solutions to microplastic analysis, right out of the box.</li></ul>You will learn about:<ul><li>Instrumental setup and experimentals</li><li>Particle analysis and evaluation</li><li>Microplastic software solutions</li></ul>We will cover the basics of:<ul><li>Different microplastics analysis techniques</li><li>Sample types</li><li>Sample preparation steps</li><li>FT-IR experimental procedures</li><li>FT-IR instrumentation</li></ul>Who should attend:<ul><li>Analytical service laboratories</li><li>Environmental researchers</li><li>Food &amp; Feed producers</li><li>Drinks &amp; Beverages producers</li></ul>FT-IR and Raman are very versatile analytical techniques - but did you know that Bruker offers by far the most comprehensive product range for spectroscopy? Our instruments cover all applications from routine incoming inspection, to multispectral fundamental research at the highest level, to solutions for in-process monitoring.If you are looking for new and innovative solutions to your analytical problems, we welcome you to join our free webinars on spectroscopic measurement techniques, perhaps making your daily work easier.Your Bruker Optics Team

Bruker: Why FT-IR FPA Imaging is King in Microplastics Analysis?

Why FT-IR FPA Imaging is King in Microplastics Analysis?

In this webinar we will show you why FT-IR is the method of choice for particle-driven analysis of microplastics.

Once again, we point out the strong synergies of pharmaceutical research, process development and quality control with Raman microscopy. In this webinar, our Raman expert Di Yan will first highlight the basics and then analyze three typical samples. For this, we leave the "PowerPoint monotony" and go hands-on with the Raman microscope. Afterwards there will be a live question and answer session to answer your questions.You will learn about:<ul><li>How to apply Raman microscopy</li><li>What to look out for in Raman instrumentation</li><li>How to comply with regulations using a Raman microscope</li></ul>What is the goal of the webinar:<ul><li>Demonstrate the utility of Raman microscopy in Pharma</li><li>Highlight the unique benefits of Raman microscopy</li></ul>We will discuss:<ul><li>Relationships between Raman and other techniques (e.g. XRD)</li><li>Basics of Raman microscopy and imaging</li><li>Application example #1: API distribution</li><li>Application example #2: Polymorphism</li><li>Application example #3: Particle analysis</li></ul>Who should attend:<ul><li>R&amp;D specialists, especially process developers</li><li>Quality control and PAT specialists</li><li>Planning to buy Raman microscope</li><li>Thinking about implementing Raman microscopy</li><li>Want to learn more about Raman microscopy in Pharma</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Di YanDr. Di Yan is a product manager at Bruker for Raman microscopy. He has studied physical chemistry at Friedrich Schiller University and Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology and has extensive experience in Raman detection techniques.</blockquote>

Bruker: Tools for Pharmaceutical Troubleshooting: Raman Microscopy

Tools for Pharmaceutical Troubleshooting: Raman Microscopy

In this webinar, our Raman expert Di Yan will first highlight the basics and then analyze three typical samples.

By combining infrared spectroscopy with atomic force microscopy (AFM-IR), it is possible to perform chemical analysis and compositional mapping with a spatial resolution down to 10 nm, which greatly surpasses standard optical diffraction limits. During this 2-hour event, our speakers explore:<ul><li>Origins of the AFM-IR technique</li><li>Recent advances in AFM-IR technology</li><li>Applications that can benefit from AFM-IR spectroscopy—especially life sciences and environmental chemistry</li></ul>Bruker Application Scientist Dr. Cassandra Phillips hosts the workshop and live demos, providing an overview of Bruker's latest nanoIR product updates.&nbsp;Watch this webinar to:<ul><li>Hear distinguished guest speakers discuss their work on AFM-IR with the nano-IR platform</li><li>Experience Bruker's new patented Surface Sensitive mode</li><li>Become familiar with Bruker's new AFM-IR platforms</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Xiaoji Xu, Ph.D.Presentation: NanoIR through PeakForce Infrared (PFIR) MicroscopyHere, Xiaoji Xu, Ph.D. (Lehigh University) introduces the novel PFIR method of AFM-IR developed at Lehigh University. This method of label-free chemical nanoscopy is based on the mechanical detection of photothermal response by AFM operated in PeakForce Tapping mode and ultimately can achieve a higher spatial resolution (sub-10 nm) and provide more rich chemical information than many of the existing tools we use for chemical imaging—or imaging in general—while also providing greater flexibility in applicability to samples in both air and liquid.In addition to providing a review of the strengths and benefits of PFIR as they relate to foundational AFM-IR and PeakForce Tapping principles and capabilities, the presentater explores and provides detailed, real-world examples of PFIR's applicability to a broad range of sample types and experimental settings.Presenter: Dmitry Kurouski, Ph.D.Presentation: Biology at the Nanoscale: From Viruses to AmyloidsIn this presentation, Dmitry Kurouski, Ph.D. (Texas A&amp;M University) showcases his team's research and findings using TERS and AFM-IR to investigate viruses, viral particles, and alpha-synuclein oligomers. Topics of this discussion range from an exploration of how IR/AFMIR spectroscopy reveals a variety of infrared spectra in biological samples that are otherwise inaccessible by traditional Raman microscopy methods, to a detailed presentation of the team's findings via a combination of AFM-IR and TERS about changes observed in the secondary structural organization and surface structure information of populations of oligomers relative to their impact on the development of Parkinson's disease.These two technologies possess different capabilities that demonstrate strong complementarity in terms of both the chemical information available and the achievable probing depth.Presenter: Cassandra Philips, Ph.D.Presentation: Quantitative Demonstration of Surface Sensitivity with nanoIR3The presenter conducts a profile analysis of a PMMA wedge sample in both Resonance enhanced and Surface Sensitivity modes, then demonstrate the analytical process for data collected in Surface Sensitivity mode.Comparison of the data outputs of various operational modes demonstrates that using the same probe and sample, users can switch from looking at bulk measurements (where the signal increases linearly with the thickness) to measurements with a surface sensitivity on the order of 15 nm just by adjusting the parameters.Surface Sensitivity mode enables measurement of the top layer of a sample with significantly improved accuracy over other operational modes, as it collects data only from the surface and not from the absorbing material beneath it.&nbsp;Presentation: Demonstration: New Platforms for AFM-IRThe presenter introduces the unique capabilities of a new Bruker platform for AFM-IR imaging.Looking at a sample of PMMA beads in epoxy resin, the presenter demonstrates the new platform's capability to achieve higher acuity and operate at higher scan speeds than other nanoIR systems. Its integration with both Bruker's most advanced AFM controller and legacy Tapping Mode imaging capabilities are explored.Additionally, the presenter showcases the ability to switch wavenumber and reconfigure laser power mid-scan (to look at both the epoxy band and the carbonyl band of the sample), as well as the platform's unique capacity to switch between sample-scanning and tip-scanning configurations, enabling investigation of the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the same sample using the same probe.</blockquote>

Bruker: NanoIR Spectroscopy & Imaging: Recent Developments and Applications

NanoIR Spectroscopy & Imaging: Recent Developments and Applications

Find out more about Bruker's latest nano IR product updates and see real-time demonstrations of the new Surface Sensitive mode and new AFM-IR platforms

NanoIR Spectroscopy & Imaging - Developments & Applications

Attend our on-demand webinar: „The True Value of FT-IR and Raman as a Quality Control Tool in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing“

Bruker: The True Value of FT-IR and Raman as a Quality Control Tool in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The True Value of FT-IR and Raman as a Quality Control Tool in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Attend our on-demand webinar about the True Value of FT-IR and Raman as a Quality Control Tool in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.