A team from CEITEC Masaryk University (MUNI) in collaboration with researchers from two research institutes in Norway has, for the first time, captured how echovirus 18, a member of the enterovirus genus, releases its genetic material into cells to initiate infection. The study provides a structural view of an early stage of viral infection under near-native conditions. Using cryo-electron microscopy, the researchers discovered that the virus does not release its RNA through a small pore in its capsid, as had long been assumed. Instead, its protein shell partially disassembles, creating a large opening through which the viral genetic material escapes into the host cell. A detailed understanding of this genome release mechanism could eventually help develop compounds preventing enteroviruses from infecting cells.Enteroviruses are common human pathogens causing diseases ranging from the common cold and gastrointestinal infections to severe neurological disorders. Echovirus 18, the virus investigated in this study, is known primarily as a cause of meningitis and encephalitis in children. It belongs to the picornaviruses, a family of small, non-enveloped viruses whose genetic material is protected by a protein shell, the capsid, organized with icosahedral symmetry.To replicate within a cell, the enteroviruses must release their RNA – the molecule that carries viral genetic information – from the capsid, into the cell cytoplasm. Although this step is crucial for initiating infection, it has never been observed in infected cells.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Vedci_z_CEITEC_jako_prvni_zachytili_jak_enteroviry_spousteji_infekci_bunek_71d553bb0e.jpg" alt="CEITEC/Plevka Lab: CEITEC Scientists Are the First to Capture How Enteroviruses Initiate Infection: View into a cell infected by echovirus 18. Echovirus 18 is shown in green and yellow, ribosomes in violet, and actin filaments in cyan. Scale 50 nm. " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Vedci_z_CEITEC_jako_prvni_zachytili_jak_enteroviry_spousteji_infekci_bunek_71d553bb0e.jpg 221w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="1128">“For a long time, two main theories existed about how picornaviruses deliver their RNA genomes into cells. One proposed that the genome leaves the capsid through a small opening. The other, supported by earlier work from our laboratory, suggested that the genome escapes from partially disassembled capsids missing pentamers of capsid proteins. However, both models were based on experiments with virus particles outside cells. We wanted to go one step further and see what really happens during infection inside a cell,” says <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ceitec.eu/liya-mukhamedova-ph-d/u89248?page=publication">Liya Mukhamedova</a>, the study’s first author from CEITEC MUNI.Using cryo-electron microscopy, which allows scientists to visualize biological structures at exceptionally high resolution, the researchers observed individual echovirus 18 particles directly within infected cells. They discovered that empty virus particles in infected cells lack parts of their capsids. It is through these openings that the virus releases its RNA.The study also revealed the role of the FcRn receptor, a cell-surface molecule that enteroviruses use to enter cells. The binding of the virus to the receptor triggers structural changes in the viral particle that prime it for subsequent genome release. The team showed that receptor binding causes the loss of the so-called pocket factor, a small molecule that normally helps stabilize the virus particle. The virus otherwise remains largely intact, suggesting that receptor binding is only the first step toward uncoating, while additional factors within the cell are required to complete the process and trigger genome release.“Infection is a complex process, during which enterovirus particles sense various interactions with cell components. The binding of echovirus 18 to the FcRn host-cell receptor triggers conformational changes in the virus, priming it for genome release.” – explains <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ceitec.eu/pavel-plevka-ph-d/u26854">Pavel Plevka</a>, head of the Structural Virology Research Group.The researchers did not observe the so-called activated particles that are key intermediates in the enterovirus uncoating process. This suggests that genome release in cells occurs much faster than previous experiments had suggested.By combining structural data obtained from studies of virus particles outside living cells with observations of infected cells, the study offers a picture of how enterovirus infection begins. Moving beyond simplified experiments with isolated virus particles, it brings scientists closer to understanding the earliest stages of enterovirus infection as they occur in living cells. The study, was published in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2601182123">PNAS journal</a>.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Vedci_z_CEITEC_jako_prvni_zachytili_jak_enteroviry_spousteji_infekci_bunek_2_3601bf1df9.jpg" alt="CEITEC/Plevka Lab: CEITEC Scientists Are the First to Capture How Enteroviruses Initiate Infection: Reconstructions of E18 particles from infected cells. The particles are rainbow-colored based on the distance from the particle center. Scale 10 nm." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Vedci_z_CEITEC_jako_prvni_zachytili_jak_enteroviry_spousteji_infekci_bunek_2_3601bf1df9.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="906"><blockquote><h4>Article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2601182123">Particles of echovirus 18 open to release their genomes in vivo</a></h4>Liya Mukhamedova, David Buchta, Zuzana Trebichalská, Yevgen Levdansky, Jana Moravcová, David Potěšil, Zbyněk Zdráhal, Dominik Hřebík, Lucie Nepovímová, Torleif Tollefsrud Gjølberg, Jan Terje Andersen, Jiří Nováček, Tibor Füzik, and Pavel PlevkaProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2026, 123, e2601182123<div>&nbsp;</div><div><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2601182123">https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2601182123</a></div><h6>licenced under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>Enteroviruses cause a broad spectrum of human diseases, ranging from mild respiratory or gastrointestinal infections to severe neurological disorders such as aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. Enterovirus cell entry involves receptor-mediated endocytosis followed by destabilizing rearrangements of the virus capsid that enable genome release. However, the mechanism of enterovirus genome release has not been visualized in infected cells. Here, we used cryoelectron tomography and microscopy to image echovirus 18 (E18) entry into host cells and its interaction with the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). 30 min postinfection, endosomes and cytoplasm contained empty capsids missing one or several pentamers of capsid proteins, providing evidence that in vivo E18 releases its genome through capsid opening. In vitro, FcRn binding induced the expulsion of pocket factors from hydrophobic pockets in VP1, priming the virus for uncoating. The cryoelectron microscopy reconstruction of genome-containing particles of E18 inside infected cells did not reveal pocket factors, indicating that receptor binding triggers the same priming process during infection. We did not detect activated particles in infected cells, suggesting that these intermediates are short-lived and rapidly release their genomes in vivo. Our results identify capsid opening as the in vivo mechanism of echovirus 18 genome release, providing structural evidence for a process previously only inferred from in vitro experiments.

CEITEC Scientists Are the First to Capture How Enteroviruses Initiate Infection 

ISC 2026 - Day 2

<h4>What if you could compress 179 days of grueling laboratory workflow into just 14 hours?</h4>In this episode of ‪ChromatographyTalk‬, ‪Organomation‬ General Manager David Oliva sits down with analytical chemist Laura Penabad to discuss her groundbreaking new research in biocatalysis and high-throughput screening. Evolving engineered enzymes typically requires checking thousands of variants—a massive bottleneck when traditional Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) runs take minutes per sample. Laura reveals how her team built a modular screening platform that shatters this limitation, running samples 128 times faster than standard methods without sacrificing analytical accuracy.Laura breaks down the "orchestra" of technologies making this possible, including coupling nanoliter droplet microfluidics with Cyclic Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (cIM-MS) to separate complex chemical isomers in milliseconds. She also shares the chaotic but triumphant behind-the-scenes stories of her PhD journey—from presenting a "comically bad" early poster at ASMS to recruiting an undergraduate mechanical engineer to build custom automation software from scratch.If you are an early-career researcher, a mass spec enthusiast, or curious about the future of synthetic biology and machine learning in chemistry, this episode is packed with invaluable intuition and advice.<h3>Video Transcription</h3><h4>From Months to Hours: Droplet Ion Mobility–MS for Biocatalysis Screening</h4>High-throughput screening is central to directed enzyme evolution, but conventional analytical workflows can create a difficult compromise: extremely fast screens often provide limited structural information, while techniques such as LC-MS offer much richer chemical insight at the cost of throughput. In a recent interview, analytical chemist Laura described how her work with droplet-based cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometry is helping bridge that gap—providing rapid analysis while retaining the ability to distinguish structurally similar products.Her research grew from an initially modest proof of concept into a screening platform capable of analyzing a 96-well plate in roughly ten minutes. The resulting workflow was approximately 128 times faster than a conventional three-minute LC-MS analysis, opening new possibilities for directed evolution campaigns in which thousands of enzyme variants need to be evaluated.<h4>Directed evolution needs better analytical screening</h4>Biocatalysis takes advantage of enzymes as highly selective catalysts capable of performing reactions under relatively mild conditions. Directed evolution extends those capabilities by deliberately modifying enzyme sequences, expressing large numbers of variants, screening their activity, and using the best-performing mutants as starting points for subsequent rounds of evolution.The process can be repeated multiple times, progressively steering an enzyme toward improved activity, altered substrate specificity, or even chemistry that does not occur naturally.But the effectiveness of directed evolution depends heavily on the screening step. The more variants that can be analyzed—and the more useful chemical information that can be collected for each one—the more effectively researchers can explore the enormous sequence space available to an enzyme.For Laura, this created a clear analytical challenge: develop a screening platform that was substantially faster than conventional chromatographic analysis without sacrificing the structural discrimination needed for chemically similar products.<h4>From an imperfect first experiment to a working platform</h4>The project did not begin with a polished high-throughput workflow.Laura recalled looking back at her 2023 ASMS poster, where the early system was still working with standards rather than true isomeric samples. Droplet introduction was slow—around six seconds per droplet—and the signals were far from the ideal reproducible, square, flat-topped profiles expected from replicate droplets.Nevertheless, simply producing a droplet signal represented an important first milestone.The decisive change came when the project stopped being treated merely as a demonstration that droplet ion mobility–MS could work and instead became a deliberate effort to build a robust screening platform.Laura approached the problem in modules. First came reliable droplet introduction. Then the ion mobility separation method. Quantification became another independent component. Matrix effects were introduced later, gradually making the system resemble the conditions expected with real screening samples.Each layer was tested before another was added.This stepwise strategy became one of the central principles of the project: rather than attempting to optimize the entire system simultaneously, individual components were developed, challenged, and then assembled into an increasingly realistic workflow.<h4>Finding the middle ground between speed and structural information</h4>One of the biggest analytical problems in high-throughput screening is distinguishing products with the same nominal or exact mass.Constitutional isomers may contain the same atoms and therefore generate the same mass-to-charge ratio, while differing only in how functional groups are arranged within the molecular structure. Very rapid optical or mass-based screens may therefore struggle to distinguish them.Traditional LC-MS can solve many of these problems through chromatographic separation, but a several-minute analysis rapidly becomes impractical when thousands of enzyme variants must be screened.Ion mobility offered Laura’s team another option.Rather than separating compounds on a chromatographic timescale, ion mobility can differentiate ions according to their gas-phase behavior on a much shorter timescale. In the workflow described in the interview, this created a useful compromise: not the kilohertz throughput possible with some simple screening technologies, but dramatically faster structural differentiation than conventional LC-MS.The goal was therefore not simply to achieve the fastest possible screen, but to find a middle-throughput analytical regime with enough resolving power to answer chemically meaningful questions.<h4>A 96-well plate in about ten minutes</h4>That strategy eventually produced one of the most striking results of the project.The droplet cyclic ion mobility–MS platform processed a 96-well plate in roughly ten minutes, while maintaining quantitative results comparable with the conventional LC-MS workflow used for comparison. According to the interview, this represented an approximately 128-fold increase in analysis speed relative to a three-minute LC-MS run.Laura described the successful plate experiment less as a surprise than as confirmation that the modular development strategy had worked.Before reaching that point, the workflow had already been challenged through a sequence of increasingly demanding experiments: droplet formation, ion mobility separation, calibration, matrix-containing calibration, and cross-testing analytes at different concentrations. By the time the complete plate was analyzed, each individual part of the analytical system had already been tested under progressively more realistic conditions.<h4>What does that speed mean for directed evolution?</h4>The impact becomes even clearer when the workflow is considered at the scale of an entire directed-evolution campaign.Laura’s manuscript estimated that a five-round campaign involving 5,000 variants would require approximately 179 days using the conventional LC-MS workflow but only about 14 hours using the new platform.Compressing months of analytical work into less than a day has consequences beyond laboratory productivity.It allows researchers to screen more enzyme variants and therefore sample a larger portion of sequence space. But the resulting datasets may also become increasingly valuable for computational approaches.Rather than retaining information only about the best-performing enzyme variant, researchers can preserve data describing variants that performed poorly as well as those that succeeded. When genotype and phenotype information remain linked through the well-plate workflow, these larger datasets can potentially provide richer input for machine-learning models designed to guide subsequent rounds of enzyme evolution.Faster analysis therefore does more than accelerate an existing experiment—it can change the scale and design of the experiment itself.<h4>Balancing ion mobility resolution and signal</h4>Increasing cyclic ion mobility separation time can improve resolution, but it also introduces an important trade-off: additional passes can reduce signal.Laura optimized this balance experimentally by continuously infusing mixtures containing both isomers and progressively adjusting the ion mobility conditions. After tuning parameters such as wave height and velocity, increasing the separation to three passes provided baseline resolution at the high analyte concentrations used during method development.<blockquote>Concentration, however, also mattered.</blockquote>At higher ion populations, space-charge effects could broaden peaks and reduce the baseline separation. This meant that the optimal number of passes could not be selected independently of the concentration range required by the final assay.Her broader advice for optimization is therefore application-driven: decide first what the analytical method actually needs to accomplish.More speed will almost always require sacrificing something—resolution, signal intensity, quantitative precision, or another performance parameter. The key is to identify which compromise the application can tolerate and then optimize the system around that requirement.<h4>Solving droplet carryover with a practical compromise</h4>Droplet-based workflows present their own engineering challenges, including carryover between neighboring samples.In Laura’s system, analytes showed little tendency to partition into the fluorinated oil separating aqueous droplets within the Teflon tubing. The more troublesome carryover occurred closer to electrospray ionization, where a small amount of sample could remain associated with the interface and appear when the next droplet arrived.Rather than adding excessive engineering complexity to an already elaborate platform, the researchers adopted a pragmatic solution: a sacrificial wash droplet between analytical samples.It is an example of a recurring theme throughout the project. The objective was not to construct the theoretically most sophisticated droplet system, but to create a screening workflow that remained sufficiently robust, reproducible, and practical for large numbers of samples.<h4>High-throughput analysis also requires high-throughput data processing</h4>Accelerating the mass spectrometry experiment created another bottleneck: the data.The instrument produced a continuous intensity-versus-time trace rather than a neatly organized well-plate dataset. With small experiments, Laura could manually identify individual droplets and process the results in spreadsheets. That approach quickly became unrealistic as sample numbers increased.The solution emerged through collaboration with an undergraduate mentee, Aiden, who helped develop a dedicated software tool for processing the continuous traces.Laura defined how the software should behave and how the analytical information should be organized, while Aiden developed the computational implementation. The workflow itself was subsequently adjusted to make automated data processing more reliable—for example, by introducing marker columns that allowed the software to recognize the end of each plate row.The resulting tool can accept the acquired traces together with information about plate dimensions and replicates and automatically return parameters including peak identity, duration, and the corresponding well position. A later version also generated an automatically populated heat map.The experience illustrates how improving analytical throughput often requires simultaneous development of instrumentation, experimental design, and informatics. Making the measurement faster is useful only if the resulting data can be processed at a comparable speed.<h4>Mentoring became part of the scientific process</h4>The software project also reflects another theme Laura emphasized throughout the interview: the value of mentoring.Several younger researchers contributed directly to the development of the final platform. Laura described mentees not simply as additional hands in the laboratory but as scientists capable of proposing their own hypotheses and experimental ideas.Working with undergraduate researchers also influenced the way she organized experiments.Because their available laboratory time was limited, each task needed to have a clear purpose. That encouraged a more disciplined approach to experimental planning: instead of performing experiments simply because they could be done, the team had to ask which experiment would most efficiently answer the next important question.In that sense, mentoring became another mechanism for improving the research itself.<h4>The next step: continuous, automated screening</h4>Despite the dramatic increase in analytical speed, the current workflow still includes manual operations such as loading tubing and connecting the sample stream to the mass spectrometer.The next engineering challenge is therefore automation.Laura described ongoing work using the Venturi effect to pull samples directly from wells into the droplet system. Building on previous work in the laboratory with 96-well plates, she has already tested this approach with as many as 2,000 samples.The long-term direction is clear: continuous and robust droplet generation, automated handling of thousands of samples, rapid ion mobility separation, mass spectrometric detection, and automated reconstruction of the resulting data into plate-based outputs.Combining those elements could move the system closer to the type of large-scale screening required for increasingly ambitious biocatalysis campaigns.<h4>Learning mass spectrometry one problem at a time</h4>Laura also reflected on the broader experience of developing the platform during her PhD.Ion mobility and mass spectrometry initially appeared intimidating, particularly because they combine concepts from analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, separations, instrumentation, and electrical engineering. What eventually changed was not simply learning more facts, but developing the ability to move repeatedly between theory and experiment.An unexpected result sends the researcher back to the underlying theory. A better understanding suggests a modified experiment. That experiment creates another observation, gradually building intuition about how the system behaves.Her advice to early-career scientists is therefore to accept that this process takes time.Advanced analytical techniques may initially appear overwhelming, but understanding develops incrementally through repeated interaction between theory, experimentation, failure, and refinement. Equally important, she emphasized the role of the supportive ion mobility–mass spectrometry community in making a technically demanding field more approachable for young researchers.From the first inconsistent droplets to a platform capable of processing thousands of samples, that iterative mindset ultimately shaped the entire project.<blockquote>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

Droplet Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spec: Compressing Months of Enzyme Screening Into Just 14 Hours

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Since its establishment in 2011, CEITEC has quickly developed into a cutting-edge infrastructure for research which performs highly alongside the best institutes in Europe. Among the main priorities of CEITEC are the promotion of a motivating and dynamic international scientific environment, the provision of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and the policy of open communication and equal opportunities.

CEITEC

The International Symposium on Chromatography (ISC) represents the oldest conference series focussing on separation science. ISC symposia have been organised since 1956 in each even year. ISC is internationally recognised as one of the premier meeting series for discussion of all modes of chromatography and separation science with a broad coverage of techniques and applications.

International Symposium on Chromatography - (ISC)

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

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Thermo Scientific QuEChERS Sample Preparation Kits

QuEChERS is a versatile sample preparation method for analyzing pesticides, veterinary drugs, and other residues in various sample types before GC-MS or LC-MS analysis.

<div><div><div><h3>QuEChERS sample preparation—now easier, more convenient, and affordable</h3>QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe)is a sample preparation method that was initially developed in 2003 for analyzing veterinary drugs in food. The method was also tested for pesticide residue analysis in plant material with great success. In 2003, the detailed method was published in the journal AOAC International. Since then, the QuEChERS method has evolved into a sample preparation technique used on a variety of analytes in an expanding number of sample types before analysis by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/gas-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-gc-ms.html">GC-MS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-lc-ms.html">LC-MS</a>.Thermo Scientific QuEChERS kits contain pre-packaged, ready-weighed salts, sorbents, and buffers to streamline your workflow and minimize the potential for error. The kits are grouped according to your analytes of interest, sample matrix, and preferred QuEChERS method:<ul><li>Original 2003 Method</li><li>AOAC 2007.01 Method</li><li>EN 15662 Method</li><li>NY/T 1380-2007 Method</li></ul>Complete packages—including both extraction and clean-up kits—are available. Extraction-only and cleanup-only kits are also offered to suit your laboratory’s sample preparation needs. These pre-packaged kits save time and money, make QuEChERS procedures easier and more convenient, and ensure quality to yield reproducible results and excellent recoveries for a wide variety of analytes.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Qu_E_Ch_ERS_Sample_Preparation_Kits_2_1e99f0c81b.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific QuEChERS Sample Preparation Kits" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Qu_E_Ch_ERS_Sample_Preparation_Kits_2_1e99f0c81b.jpg 217w," sizes="100vw" width="891" height="640"><h3>Typical QuEChERS workflow</h3><div><div><div><div><div>As shown in the workflow diagram below, the QuEChERS method has four basic steps:<ol><li>Homogenize sample (fruit or vegetable)</li><li>Extract analytes of interest from a sample using extraction salts (pesticide residues, veterinary drugs, and/or mycotoxins)</li><li>Clean-up the resulting supernatant using dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE)</li><li>Analyze by GC-MS or LC-MS</li></ol><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Qu_E_Ch_ERS_Sample_Preparation_Kits_496491ceff.jpeg" alt="Thermo Scientific QuEChERS Sample Preparation Kits" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Qu_E_Ch_ERS_Sample_Preparation_Kits_496491ceff.jpeg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1170" height="706"><div><h3>QuEChERS products</h3></div><div><h4>QuEChERS extraction kits for original 2003 method</h4></div><div>The original QuEChERS method (Anastassiades et al, 2003) was developed by Steven J. Lehotay and Michelangelo Anastassiades in 2003 for the determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. The original method was created to analyze non-base-sensitive compounds and uses a sodium chloride buffer to reduce polar interferences and enhance extraction. Buffering is an important part of the QuEChERS procedure because it allows for analysis of pesticides and other residues that display pH dependence in their recoveries, depending on the sample matrix. Three different extraction kits are available to support the original 2003 QuEChERS method.<h5>Chemicals used in the original 2003 method</h5></div><ul><li>Acetonitrile: Used to perform single-phase extraction (SPE) on a sample</li><li>Anhydrous MgSO₄: Induces phase separation between water content in sample and acetonitrile layer during liquid-liquid partitioning step; removes remaining water from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li><li>NaCl: Induces phase separation between water content in sample and acetonitrile layer during liquid-liquid partitioning step; removes residual water from sample; reduces polar interference and enhances extraction</li><li>PSA: Primary secondary amine, used to remove polar matrix components, citric co-extractives, and free fatty acids, from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li></ul><div><h4>QuEChERS extraction and clean-up kits for AOAC 2007.01 method</h4>The AOAC 2007.01 QuEChERS Method was developed by Steven J. Lehotay and his co-workers, who modified the original 2003 method to accommodate the use of acetate buffering at higher concentration for greater buffering strength. Buffering is an important part of the QuEChERS procedure because it allows for analysis of pesticides and other residues that display pH dependence in their recoveries, depending on the sample matrix. These extraction and clean-up products here support the AOAC 2007.01 method.<div><h5>Chemicals used in the AOAC 2007.01 method</h5><ul><li>Acetonitrile: Used to perform single-phase extraction on a sample</li><li>Anhydrous MgSO₄: Induces phase separation between water content in sample and acetonitrile layer during liquid-liquid partitioning step; removes remaining water from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li><li>NaOAc: Buffers the sample to stabilize pH</li><li>PSA: Primary secondary amine, used to remove polar matrix components, citric co-extractives, and free fatty acids, from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li><li>C18: Removes fats, sterols, and other non-polar interferences from sample</li><li>GCB: Graphitized carbon black, removes pigment (not recommended for use with planar pesticides)</li></ul><div><h4>QuEChERS extraction and clean-up kits for EN 15662 method</h4>The extraction and clean-up products here support the EN 15662 method. Widely used in Europe, the EN 15662 method was developed by Michelangelo Anastassiades and co-workers, who modified the original 2003 method to accommodate the use of citrate buffering at a relatively low buffering capacity. This variation uses a sodium chloride buffer to minimize polar interferences in addition to sodium citrate dihydrate and disodium citrate sesquihydrate buffers. Buffering is an important part of the QuEChERS procedure because it allows for analysis of pesticides and other residues that display pH dependence in their recoveries, depending on the sample matrix.<h5>Chemicals used in the EN 15662 method</h5><ul><li>Acetonitrile: Used to perform single-phase extraction on a sample</li><li>Anhydrous MgSO₄: Induces phase separation between water content in sample and acetonitrile layer during liquid-liquid partitioning step; removes remaining water from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li><li>NaCl: Induces phase separation between water content in sample and acetonitrile layer during liquid-liquid partitioning step; removes residual water from sample</li><li>Trisodium Citrate: Buffers the sample to stabilize pH</li><li>Disodium Citrate Sesquihydrate: Buffers the sample to stabilize pH</li><li>PSA: Primary secondary amine, used to remove polar matrix components, citric co-extractives, and free fatty acids, from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li><li>C18: Removes fats, sterols, and other non-polar interferences from sample</li><li>GCB: Graphitized carbon black, removes pigment (not recommended for use with planar pesticides)</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Qu_E_Ch_ERS_Sample_Preparation_Kits_3_721562526f.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific QuEChERS Sample Preparation Kits" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Qu_E_Ch_ERS_Sample_Preparation_Kits_3_721562526f.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1471" height="488"><div><h4>QuEChERS clean-up kit for NY/T 1380-2007 method</h4></div><div>The NY/T 1380-2007 method is recommended by China Ministry of Agriculture for the QuEChERS Method sample preparation of 51 specific pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables with analysis by GC-MS.<h5>Chemicals used in the NY/T 1380-2007 method</h5><ul><li>Anhydrous MgSO₄: Induces phase separation between water content in sample and acetonitrile layer during liquid-liquid partitioning step; removes remaining water from sample during dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) step</li><li>PSA: Primary secondary amine, used to remove polar matrix components, citric co-extractives, and free fatty acids, from sample during dSPE step</li><li>C18: Removes fats, sterols, and other non-polar interferences from sample</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Thermo Scientific Dionex AutoTrace 280 Solid-Phase Extraction Instrument

Extract analytes of interest from large volume aqueous samples easily and efficiently with the Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ AutoTrace™ 280 Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) Instrument.

Extract analytes of interest from large volume aqueous samples easily and efficiently with the Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ AutoTrace™ 280 Solid-Phase Extraction (SPE) Instrument.&nbsp;The AutoTrace 280 automates all four steps of SPE (conditioning, loading, rinsing, and eluting), reducing solvent consumption and improving recovery and reproducibility. Boost productivity and reduce cost of analysis by simultaneously processing up to six samples in 2-3 hours with only 15 minutes of operator involvement. The AutoTrace 280 meets requirements in US EPA methods including the 500 and 600 series.<h5>Improved reliability and recovery</h5><ul><li>Automated SPE minimizes operator intervention</li><li>Positive pressure loading and elution of samples and solvents provide constant flow for improved analytical precision</li></ul><h5>Flexibility in operation</h5><ul><li>Loads sample volumes from 20 mL to 4 L</li><li>Compatible with 1, 3, and 6 mL cartridges and with 47 mm SPE disks</li><li>Automatically conditions, rinses, and elutes SPE cartridges with a choice of five solvents</li><li>Offers a choice of six different collection vial racks</li></ul><h5>Improved laboratory safety</h5><ul><li>Minimal sample handling reduces operator exposure to hazardous chemicals</li><li>No hood required</li></ul><h5>Enhanced laboratory productivity and reduced costs</h5><ul><li>Unattended operation</li><li>Batch processing of up to 6 samples</li><li>Reduced solvent usage</li><li>Segregates aqueous and solvent waste using separate waste lines for efficient, cost-effective waste handling</li></ul><h5>Supports a range of matrices and applications</h5><ul><li>Ability to process samples containing suspended solids</li><li>Meets requirements for solid-phase extraction for U.S. EPA methods including 500 and 600 series</li></ul><h5>Recommended use</h5><ul><li>Analyze prepared samples with Thermo Scientific LC or GC systems for a fully integrated workflow</li></ul><h4>Specifications</h4><ul><li>Instrument Type: Automated Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) System</li><li>Application: For use with 47 mm SPE disks</li><li>Model Description: AutoTrace 280 SPE System</li></ul><h5>Performance &amp; Operating Details</h5><ul><li>Disk Compatibility: Designed for 47 mm SPE disks</li><li>Pressure Range:<ul><li>Output: 0 to 30 psi (0 to 1.4 bar)</li><li>Input: Up to 100 psi (6.9 bar) maximum</li></ul></li><li>Voltage: 100–240 V ±10%</li><li>Frequency: 47–63 Hz</li></ul><h5>Physical Specifications</h5><ul><li>Dimensions (D × W × H): 57 × 63.5 × 69 cm</li><li>Unit Size: Each</li></ul>

Thermo Scientific EXTREVA ASE Accelerated Solvent Extractor

Achieve true walkaway sample-to-vial sample preparation with the Thermo Scientific™ EXTREVA™ ASE™ Accelerated Solvent Extractor. 

Achieve true walkaway sample-to-vial sample preparation with the Thermo Scientific™ EXTREVA™ ASE™ Accelerated Solvent Extractor. Without any intervention, perform sample extraction, in-cell cleanup and evaporation—all in one seamless operation—reducing manual labor from hours to minutes and enabling you to focus on other lab priorities while using up to 50% less solvent than other sample preparation techniques.Accelerate your journey from sample to vial<h5>The EXTREVA ASE Accelerated Solvent Extractor offers:</h5><ul><li>All-in-one sample preparation. The EXTREVA ASE system automatically extracts and concentrates samples, eliminating the need to manually move sample extracts to another device for solvent evaporation.</li><li>A walk-away solution. The system minimizes hands-on sample preparation tasks, enabling staff to accomplish other tasks.</li><li>Parallel extraction. One EXTREVA ASE system can perform four parallel sample extractions, substantially increasing throughput.</li><li>Gas-assisted extraction. The dynamic gas-assisted extraction mode reduces solvent consumption to between 5 and 100 milliliters per sample in most cases.</li><li>Automation. Full automation improves recoveries and reproducibility while reducing training needs. Unlike humans, automated systems are ideal for performing the same tedious task repeatedly, and they don’t make mistakes.</li><li>Method flexibility and optimization. Up to six different solvents can be used, including wash solvents for cleaning between methods. Precise flow control optimizes methods.</li><li>Barcode-reading. The system tracks sample information and preparation parameters using a 2-D bar code reader to facilitate tracking and integrity. Data is recorded on the instrument or Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/76">Chromeleon™ Chromatography Data System (CDS) software</a>.</li></ul><h4>Specifications</h4><ul><li>Instrument Type: Automated Sample Preparation System</li><li>Application: Simultaneous sample extraction and concentration</li><li>Model Description: EXTREVA ASE Extraction and Evaporation System</li></ul><h5>Performance &amp; Capabilities</h5><ul><li>Extraction Temperature Range: 40–200 °C</li><li>Evaporation Temperature Range: 40–100 °C</li><li>Compatible Solvents: Wide range of organic and aqueous solvents</li><li>Pressure Capability: Up to 200 psi</li><li>Power Consumption: 2000 W</li><li>Frequency: 50/60 Hz</li></ul><h5>Sample &amp; Solvent Handling</h5><ul><li>Extraction Cells (stainless steel): 1, 5, 10, 22, 34, 66, 100 mL</li><li>Extraction Cell Tray: 16-position with 1 rinse</li><li>Collection Vials:<ul><li>60 mL and 100 mL evaporation vials</li><li>250 mL evaporation bottles</li><li>Direct concentrate to 2 mL sample vials with rinse capability</li></ul></li><li>Collection Vial Tray: 16-position tray insert for 60 mL vials and 250 mL bottles; includes 4 rinse positions</li></ul><h5>Utilities &amp; Requirements</h5><ul><li>Pneumatic Requirements:<ul><li>Air: 130–140 psi</li><li>Nitrogen: 350–450 psi</li></ul></li></ul><h5>Physical Specifications</h5><ul><li>Dimensions (D × W × H): 65.2 × 100 × 88.6 cm (25.6 × 39.4 × 34.8 in.)</li><li>Weight: 160 kg (353 lb)</li><li>Unit Size: Each</li></ul>

Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ASE™ 350 Accelerated Solvent Extractor

Save time, reduce solvent consumption, and boost productivity with Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ASE™ 350 Accelerated Solvent Extractor.

<div>Automate extraction, filtration and clean up of compounds from solid and semisolid samples in minutes using the automated Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ASE™ 350 Accelerated Solvent Extractor. This system accommodates sample sizes of 1-100g, allows unattended extraction of up to 24 samples and uses 50 to 90% less solvent compared to other methods.&nbsp;The chemically inert pathway supports acid and alkaline sample matrices and solvents. Flexible, easy-to-operate and cost-effective, the Dionex ASE 350 is ideally suited for high-throughput laboratories and for a wide variety of applications.<div><h4>Rapid and efficient extractions</h4><ul><li>Elevated temperature (up to 200°C) and pressure (1500psi) reduce extraction times and solvent consumption</li><li>Fast pump (70mL/min.) enables fast extractions (typically 12-20 minutes)</li><li>Specialized oven design ensures precise temperature control for excellent reproducibility</li><li>Integrated solvent controller allows mixing and delivery of up to three solvents</li><li>The Thermo Scientific™ SmartRun™ System ensures cell size and collection vessel size are matched for an optimal extraction</li></ul><h4>Enhanced flexibility to support multiple applications</h4><ul><li>System accommodates 1, 5, 10, 22, 34, 66 and 100mL cell sizes</li><li>pH-hardened pathway with Thermo Scientific™ Dionium™ components and cell enables compatibility with acid or alkaline pretreated matrices</li></ul><h4>Dramatically reduced solvent consumption</h4><ul><li>Requires less than 50mL solvent for a 20g sample</li><li>Includes solvent saver mode for further solvent savings</li></ul><h4>Enhanced laboratory productivity</h4><ul><li>System holds up to 24 samples for unattended operation</li><li>Flow-through technology allows in-line filtration and in-cell cleanup</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_Dionex_ASE_350_system_2_9426ff3f9a/Thermo-Scientific-Dionex-ASE-350-system_2.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ ASE™ 350 Accelerated Solvent Extractor" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_Dionex_ASE_350_system_2_9426ff3f9a/thumbnail_Thermo-Scientific-Dionex-ASE-350-system_2.jpg 114w," sizes="100vw" width="579" height="792"><h3>🛠️ Specifications</h3><ul><li>Collection Vial Tray: 26-position tray insert for 60 mL vials; 19-position tray insert for 250 mL bottles</li><li>Depth (English): 27.3 in.</li><li>Depth (Metric): 69.3 cm</li><li>Description: Extractor Only</li><li>Extraction Fluids: Compatible with a wide range of organic and aqueous solvents</li><li>Fluid Sensors: IR</li><li>Frequency: 50/60 Hz</li><li>Height (English): 24.3 in.</li><li>Height (Metric): 61.7 cm</li><li>Pneumatic Requirements: Air at 400–827 kPa (60–120 psi); N2 (at 1034 ×–1340 kPa (150–200 psi))</li><li>Power Consumption: 500 Max VA</li><li>Pressure: 10 MPa (1500 psi)</li><li>Pump Flow: 70 mL/min</li><li>Temperature Control: Up to 200 °C</li><li>Weight (English): 140 lb.</li><li>Weight (Metric): 65 kg</li><li>Width (English): 26.5 in.</li><li>Width (Metric): 67.3 cm</li><li>Collection Vials: 60, 250 mL</li><li>Dimensions (D x W x H): 69.3 x 67.3 x 61.7 cm</li><li>Extraction Cell Tray: 24 Cell, 2 Rinse</li><li>Extraction Cells: 1, 5, 10, 22, 34, 66, 100 mL</li><li>For Use With (Equipment): Dionex ASE 350</li><li>Type: Dionex ASE 350 System</li><li>Unit Size: Each</li></ul></div></div>

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