Ask the Agilent Experts Series – Part 7: The Mass Spec Edition

Following up from our very successful previous sessions, we are delighted to offer another panel discussion in the ever-popular “Ask the Agilent Experts” series.

Have you ever had a question about your GC/GCMS analysis and thought, “I have no idea what to do,” or that since the question seemed so simple, everyone must already know the answer, and “Am I the only one who doesn’t know what to do?” We can assure you that you are not alone.

If you have a question, we can guarantee that you are not the first...nor the last person to ask the question. Sometimes the simplest of questions can have the most complex answers. A question about how to improve your overall data quality can lead to a discussion about what types of columns should be used with a mass spec and why. A question about sensitivity can lead to a conversation about solvent focusing and maybe how to determine when to replace your EM horn. Even questions about when to tune or what type of tune to use will lead to a bigger conversation to determine what is best for that specific analysis. There is no such thing as an easy answer because the answer always “depends” on many different factors.

We will discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about GC and GCMS that we have received. Many seem like simple questions, but have anything but simple answers. We'll also address new questions that we hope you will submit to us in advance to be answered by experts from Agilent, as well as from the field.

By attending this discussion, you will learn:

• How there are many factors impacting the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer, from solvent focusing at injection, to performing the correct type of tune, to the age of the EM horn, and how they all impact the sensitivity of the analytical method.
• Why some consumables are more preferred for use with mass spectrometers, and listen to Agilent scientists discuss the complexities of the most frequently asked questions they receive.
• Why column installation depth into the ion source is important, and what can happen if it is too short or too long.

Presenter: Vanessa Abercrombie (MFS, GC Applications Chemist, Agilent Technologies)

Vanessa Abercrombie is a GC applications chemist at Agilent Technologies in Folsom, California, USA. Vanessa has a broad background in GC and GC/MS, including experience as an instrument chemist at Bode Technology in Virginia working under contract to the FBI’s Laboratory Division. Prior to that, Vanessa worked for ETS Labs in St. Helena, California, as an analytical chemist, where she researched and developed quantitative separations by GC/MS and UHPLC for beer, wine, and spirits. She holds a Masters of Forensic Science from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Sonoma State University.

Presenter: Samuel Haddad (Ph.D., Application Development Chemist, Agilent Technologies)

Samuel Haddad is a GC Application Development Chemist at Agilent Technologies in Wilmington, Delaware.  Samuel specializes in GC and GC/MS applications of trace analysis in environmental and heavy matrix samples.  His specialty includes sample preparation techniques to separate analytes from matrix components and extraction from a wide variety of matrix including water, fish, aquatic life, soil, and complex fluids.  Samuel holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Baylor University and a B.S in Biology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.     
Moderator

Presenter: Diane Turner (Director & Senior Consultant, Anthias Consulting Ltd)

A Warwick University graduate, Diane completed her Master's in analytical chemistry and started her career in environmental chemistry, later gaining significant experience as an applications chemist. Diane’s area of research through her PhD studies at The Open University was disease diagnosis. She has developed methods and given support and training for companies in most industries around the world for more than 20 years. Diane holds voluntary roles with The Royal Society of Chemistry and other scientific organizations.