<p><strong>🎤Dr. Steven Weinman </strong>(Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Alabama)</p><p><strong>Steven shares his journey from chemical engineering student to membrane researcher, and explains how membranes are used not only for water purification, but also for sample preparation, pre-treatment, and concentration in analytical workflows. The conversation dives deep into PFAS removal, nanofiltration vs. reverse osmosis, and how chromatography and mass spectrometry are essential for validating membrane performance.</strong></p><h4><strong>Key topics discussed include:</strong></h4><ul><li>How membranes function as separation and concentration tools</li><li>Nanofiltration vs. reverse osmosis for salts and PFAS</li><li>The role of chromatography (LC-MS, GC-MS, ion chromatography) in verifying contaminant removal</li><li>Challenges in scaling academic separation technologies to industry</li><li>Sustainability in membrane manufacturing and PFAS-related regulations</li><li>Training students to balance fundamental science with real-world applications</li></ul><p>Whether you work in environmental analysis, chromatography, mass spectrometry, water quality, or separation science, this episode provides valuable insight into how different separation technologies complement each other—and where the field is heading next.</p><h3><strong>Video Transcription</strong></h3><h4><strong>Introduction</strong></h4><p>Membrane-based separations have become a central part of modern water treatment and resource recovery, offering energy-efficient routes for purification, concentration, and selective contaminant removal. In this discussion, Stephen reflects on his path into chemical engineering and membrane science, then explores how membrane technologies fit within broader separation science, how selectivity is designed into membrane systems, and why translation from academic research to industrial deployment remains challenging.</p><p>His perspective spans both fundamental membrane science and practical engineering, with particular emphasis on water treatment, contaminant removal, sustainable membrane manufacturing, and the realities of research funding and scale-up.</p><h4><strong>From Chemical Engineering to Membrane Research</strong></h4><p>Stephen’s route into membrane science began indirectly. Although his early interests were far removed from chemical engineering, he found himself drawn to chemistry and mathematics during high school, which led him to pursue chemical engineering at the University of Kentucky. His first direct exposure to research came through a cooperative placement with a university-affiliated research institute, where he worked on ceramic membrane systems for coal-fired power plant applications.</p><p>That experience introduced him to bench-scale research, scientific literature, and technical presentation, while also clarifying that research was more appealing to him than traditional industrial internships. He subsequently joined the laboratory of a membrane scientist at the University of Kentucky, where he began working on polymeric membranes for water treatment. This set the direction for graduate study, ultimately leading him to Clemson University, where he pursued PhD research on antifouling membranes using surface chemistry and patterning approaches.</p><p>Although his original career plan had been to join a membrane company after graduate school, that trajectory changed late in his doctoral training. Encouragement from colleagues and family led him to consider academia, where he could define his own research questions and continue mentoring students. He joined the University of Alabama immediately after graduation and has since built a research program focused on water treatment problems using membranes, solvents, and polymer-based sorbents.</p><h4><strong>Membrane Separation in the Broader Context of Analytical and Separation Science</strong></h4><p>Stephen frames membranes as one tool within a broader separation science landscape. Their role depends entirely on the feed composition, the desired product stream, and the ultimate process objective. In some cases, membranes are ideal for concentrating target species or dewatering mixtures. In others, they serve as pretreatment tools, removing particulates, unwanted macromolecules, or selected contaminants before downstream analytical or processing steps.</p><p>This logic parallels broader analytical workflows, including chromatographic and spectrometric methods, where sample preparation and matrix simplification are often critical. Even very routine laboratory operations, such as syringe filtration, rely on membrane principles. In that sense, membranes are already embedded in many analytical workflows, even when they are not the primary focus.</p><p>He also points out that certain membrane-based systems can begin to overlap conceptually with chromatographic approaches, particularly in applications such as protein and biologics purification, where membrane adsorbers and membrane chromatography can provide high-throughput alternatives to conventional packed columns.</p><h4><strong>Membrane Selectivity: Matching the Separation to the Problem</strong></h4><p>A recurring theme in the discussion is that membrane selection is application-specific. The right membrane depends on what must be retained, what must pass through, and whether the goal is purification, concentration, or fractionation.</p><p>Stephen distinguishes between several broad classes of membranes. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration operate largely through size exclusion, although charge effects may still contribute. These are useful when target species differ sufficiently in size. At the more selective end, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis are used for salts, small molecules, and persistent contaminants. Nanofiltration is often well suited for rejecting divalent ions while allowing more monovalent ions to pass, whereas reverse osmosis is required when more complete salt rejection is necessary.</p><p>For contaminants such as PFAS, nanofiltration can reject a substantial fraction of compounds, although shorter-chain and smaller species are more difficult. Reverse osmosis offers broader rejection, but also with higher pressure requirements. This highlights a central engineering tradeoff: tighter selectivity generally requires higher energy input.</p><p>He emphasizes that membrane systems always produce at least two streams: a permeate stream and a retentate or concentrate stream. Designing the separation therefore requires consideration not only of product quality but also of what happens to the reject stream. In many cases this becomes a waste stream; in others, it may represent a concentrated resource that requires additional processing or recovery.</p><h4><strong>Advances in Membrane Materials and System Performance</strong></h4><p>Over the course of more than a decade in membrane science, Stephen has seen important improvements in commercial membrane technology, particularly in the area of lower-pressure reverse osmosis. Traditionally, reverse osmosis has required higher operating pressures than nanofiltration. Recent developments have reduced that burden, allowing similar water productivity at lower pressure or smaller membrane area for a given throughput.</p><p>These advances matter because they reduce either energy demand or plant footprint, both of which are significant in industrial and municipal treatment systems. While pressure recovery devices have also improved overall system efficiency, he distinguishes those engineering gains from the membrane materials themselves.</p><p>On the research side, he highlights the emergence of membrane adsorbers and related hybrid technologies that can support faster, higher-throughput separations than conventional column-based workflows. These have gained particular traction in the purification of proteins and biologics, although he suggests that similar concepts may become increasingly relevant in water treatment and selective ion or molecule recovery.</p><h4><strong>Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry as Tools for Membrane Research</strong></h4><p>Although many membrane processes target relatively simple separations such as desalination, more advanced membrane studies increasingly rely on analytical chemistry for validation and mechanistic insight. Stephen describes how chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods are essential when the separation targets are more complex than salts.</p><p>His group uses ion chromatography for specific ionic analytes, as well as GC-MS and electrospray-based methods for organic compounds and degradation products. One recent example involved a biocatalytic membrane designed to degrade phthalates, where GC-MS was used to detect both the parent phthalate and the resulting breakdown products. In such cases, analytical methods are not merely confirmatory; they are central to demonstrating that the membrane or membrane-coupled system is functioning as intended.</p><p>This reinforces the idea that membrane science and analytical chemistry are closely linked in emerging applications, especially where contaminant transformation, trace-level detection, or selective removal must be verified rigorously.</p><h4><strong>The Difficulty of Scale-Up</strong></h4><p>One of the most substantial barriers in membrane research is translation from academic bench-scale work to industrial or municipal scale. Stephen identifies two major constraints: time and cost.</p><p>Academic demonstrations often rely on reaction steps, modification procedures, or fabrication methods that work well on the laboratory scale but are far too slow for industrial practice. A protocol that takes hours or days in a research setting is rarely attractive to a manufacturer seeking cycle times measured in seconds or minutes. Likewise, materials that seem acceptable at gram scale may be prohibitively expensive at production scale, although the reverse may also be true if bulk pricing is favorable.</p><p>The more fundamental challenge is that academic research is not usually funded to perform pilot-scale development. The mission is often centered on fundamental science and student training, not industrial process engineering. Moving from proof-of-concept to deployable technology requires time, equipment, space, and funding that many university laboratories simply do not have.</p><p>For this reason, Stephen sees academia’s main role as laying the conceptual and technical groundwork. If a technology shows promise, the ideal outcome is that an industrial partner, start-up, or other translational pathway takes it further. In some cases, research can be designed from the start with scalability in mind. He cites current work on reverse osmosis membrane additives as an example, where the goal is not to reinvent membrane fabrication but to introduce a change that could plausibly fit existing manufacturing workflows.</p><h4><strong>Sustainability and Greener Membrane Science</strong></h4><p>Membrane processes themselves are often relatively energy efficient compared with thermal separations, but Stephen notes that membrane manufacturing still has significant room for improvement. Conventional membrane fabrication often relies on hazardous, petroleum-derived solvents, and one area of active research is the substitution of greener or bio-based alternatives.</p><p>Another direction is the use of waste plastics as feedstock for membrane fabrication. The rationale is pragmatic: if such plastics are already present in the environment, converting them into membranes may extend their useful lifetime and partially offset their environmental burden. More biodegradable or less petroleum-dependent polymers are also attractive, but they must still meet cost and performance requirements.</p><p>He also discusses an important regulatory issue involving polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), one of the most widely used membrane polymers. Debate over whether it should be treated as a PFAS-related material could have major implications for membrane manufacturing and use. From his perspective, classifying PVDF in that way would create significant disruption, especially given its central role in current membrane systems.</p><h4><strong>Funding, Student Training, and the Academic Mission</strong></h4><p>The final part of the discussion turns to the academic research environment itself. Stephen emphasizes that the most important responsibility of his laboratory is not simply generating new membrane concepts, but training students and ensuring that they can complete their degrees in a supportive research environment.</p><p>Funding uncertainty directly affects that mission. Reduced proposal success rates make it harder to maintain the number of graduate students needed for a healthy research group. This has implications beyond immediate staffing. Laboratories function best when experienced students train newer members, creating continuity in methods, culture, and technical knowledge. If groups shrink too far, that continuity is lost.</p><p>He views graduate research as both education and work experience. Students are not only learning theory; they are learning how to think as researchers, solve open-ended problems, and contribute to technologies that may eventually benefit industry. From that perspective, sustaining student support is one of the most important parts of maintaining a strong academic research ecosystem.</p><h4><strong>Conclusion</strong></h4><p>Stephen presents membrane science as a field that sits at the intersection of chemical engineering, separation science, and analytical chemistry. Membranes are already deeply integrated into both industrial treatment and laboratory workflows, but their future depends on continued progress in selectivity, sustainability, and manufacturability.</p><p>At the same time, the discussion makes clear that technical performance alone is not enough. For membrane technologies to move from the laboratory to practice, they must be scalable, economically realistic, and supported by strong analytical validation. Academic laboratories can provide the foundational science and early demonstrations, but broader adoption depends on partnerships, funding, and translational effort.</p><p>Perhaps most importantly, the conversation highlights that advances in membrane science are inseparable from the students and researchers who carry them forward. In that sense, the future of separations depends not only on materials and methods, but also on sustaining the people who develop them.</p><blockquote><p><strong>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.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><h4><strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</strong></h4><p>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!</p><p>You can find <strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast </strong>in podcast apps:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL"><strong>Spotify</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185"><strong>Apple podcast</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography"><strong>podscan</strong></a></li></ul><p>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos"><strong>YouTube channel</strong></a></p></blockquote>

Selective Separations: What Membrane Science Can Teach Chromatographers

<div><section><div><div><div><div><div><div><p><strong>This study examines the impact of iron deficiency on body composition and metabolism in women with obesity. Iron-deficient individuals exhibited higher fat mass, elevated circulating fatty acids, and a reduced muscle-to-fat ratio prior to bariatric surgery.</strong></p><p>One year post-surgery, the iron-deficient group showed lower skeletal muscle mass and continued unfavorable body composition, alongside reduced amino acid levels. These findings suggest that iron deficiency exacerbates metabolic dysfunction and negatively affects obesity-related outcomes.</p></div></div></div></div><blockquote><h4><strong>The original article</strong></h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006"><strong>Iron Deficiency Is Associated with Increased Circulating Fatty Acids and Unfavorable Body Composition in Women with Obesity</strong></a></h4><p>Jessica Monteiro Volejnik Pino, Ana Paula de Oliveira Ferreira, Raquel da Silveira Campos, Marcos Mônico-Neto, Vitória Fernandes da Silva, Melissa Yumi Kato, Gabriel Trigo Pereira, Isabella Mendes Borghetti, Thais Regiani Cataldi, Thales Delmondes Galvão, Lia Rita Azeredo Bittencourt, Sergio Tufik, and Kil Sun Lee*</p><p>ACS Nutr. Sci. 2026, 1, 1, 28–35</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006">https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006</a></p><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><strong>CC-BY 4.0</strong></a></h6></blockquote><p><strong>Selected sections from the article follow. Formats and hyperlinks were adapted from the original.</strong></p><div><p>Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies. Although children and women in reproductive phase are the most well-known demographic groups affected by iron deficiency, increased prevalence of iron deficiency in the population with obesity has also been reported. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(1−3)</a> The cause of iron deficiency in obesity appears to involve both insufficient dietary iron intake and poor dietary quality and the secondary effects of hormonal and metabolic changes that occur in obesity. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(4−6)</a></p><p>Iron plays essential roles in several vital functions, such as oxygen transport, cellular respiration, and energy production. Thus, inadequate intake of the micronutrient or problems in its homeostasis for a prolonged period can impair several physiological functions. In fact, changes in systemic iron homeostasis are known to affect the endocrine functions, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(7)</a> including the secretion of adipokines. In humans, for instance, serum ferritin has been reported to be negatively correlated with serum adiponectin levels. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(8−10)</a> Bioavailability of iron is also important for cardiac and renal function <a href="javascript:void(0);">(11)</a> and glycemic control, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(12)</a> and iron deficiency is known to be related to the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(2,13)</a> Moreover, hepatic iron plays a key role in the synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids. Elevated hepatic iron levels enhance the expression of several enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, such as HMG-CoA reductase, leading to increased hepatic cholesterol content. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(14)</a> A transcriptomic study further demonstrated a significant upregulation of genes involved in cholesterol synthesis in response to high iron intake, highlighting the importance of iron in this metabolic process. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(15)</a></p><p>Considering the importance of iron in cardiac function and metabolic homeostasis, the most affected physiological functions in obesity, it is plausible to hypothesize that iron deficiency could worsen the clinical prognosis of obesity. Indeed, our previous study demonstrated that women with grade III obesity had lower iron levels compared to those with grade I or II obesity. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(16)</a></p><p>Despite the potential negative impact of iron deficiency on metabolism and its consequences for noncommunicable chronic diseases such as obesity, few studies have examined the metabolic profile of individuals with both iron deficiency and obesity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the impact of iron deficiency on the profile of circulating metabolites in women with obesity. We also evaluated how an iron deficiency influences the response to bariatric surgery, a procedure increasingly used to treat obesity.</p></div><div><h4><strong>2. Materials and Methods</strong></h4><h5><strong>2.5. Analysis of Plasma Metabolic Profile by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)</strong></h5><p>Derivatized samples (1 μL of each) were injected in splitless mode into a gas chromatograph (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=8890"><strong>8890GC Agilent Technologies</strong></a>, Santa Clara, CA, USA) equipped with a capillary column of fused silica, measuring 20 m in length, 0.18 mm of internal diameter and 0.18 μm of film thickness (Agilent J&amp;W Scientific, Santa Clara, CA, USA). The initial temperature of the column was 80 °C, which was maintained for 2 min and then increased by 15 °C/min up to 305 °C. The injection started 300 s after initiating data acquisition at a temperature of 280 °C, with a flow of 20 mL/min. The column effluent was introduced into the ion source of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/36"><strong>mass spectrometer TOFMS (Pegasus BT</strong></a>, Leco, St. Joseph, MI, USA). The temperature of the ion source was 250 °C, the electron beam was 70 eV, and the ionization current was 2.0 mA. The detector voltage was fixed at 1500 V, and 20 spectra/s were acquired in the range of 45–800 <i>m</i>/<i>z</i>. Three sets of alkanes (C12–C28) were run at the beginning, middle, and end of the samples to test the performance of the GC-MS and calculate the retention index. The coefficient of variation of the retention time, retention index, and peak intensity is shown in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006/suppl_file/ns5c00006_si_001.pdf">Supporting Information, Table 1</a>.</p></div></div></div></section></div><h5><strong>2.6. GC/MS Data Processing</strong></h5><p>GC/MS data were processed using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/41"><strong>ChromaTOF</strong></a> for BT, v 1.2.0.6, in which baseline correction, deconvolution, retention-time correction, and retention-index calculation were carried out. The alignment of peaks and identification of metabolites were performed using the NIST library, version 2.4 (2020). Only those features with a total ion count above 250 that presented at least three matching peaks and a score equal to or higher than 800 were considered as valid metabolites. In addition, only metabolites that were consistently detected in at least 5 of 7 samples of at least one group were included in the further data analysis (Supporting Information, Figure 1A,B). Supporting Information, Figure 1C and D show, respectively, the number of metabolites that were not detected in each sample and the total peak intensity of each sample. The peak intensity of each metabolite was normalized to a total peak intensity. Due to a technical issue during the GC/MS run, one sample from the postoperative iron-sufficient group (IS) was excluded from the metabolomic analysis. Thus, the final analysis included 7 participants in the iron-deficient (ID) group and 6 in the postoperative IS group.</p><h4><strong>3. Results</strong></h4><p>First, the effect of iron deficiency was evaluated in preoperative samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was able to cluster and distinguish the ID group from the IS group (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006#fig2">Figure 2</a>A). Principal component 1 (PC1) and principal component 2 (PC2) together were responsible for a 47.8% variation of the metabolomic profile. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006#fig2">Figure 2</a>B and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006/suppl_file/ns5c00006_si_001.pdf">Supplementary Table 5</a> show the metabolites that were increased or decreased in the ID group compared to the IS group in presurgical condition. Amino acids and related metabolites showed random behavior, with some increasing and others decreasing in the ID group compared to the IS group. However, all fatty acids or their conjugation had increased abundance in the ID group, while propanedioic acid, a precursor for fatty acid synthesis, also known as malonic acid, had a lower abundance in the ID group (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006#fig2">Figure 2</a>B, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006/suppl_file/ns5c00006_si_001.pdf">Supplementary Table 5</a>). Since the plasma samples were collected in the fasting state, increased circulating fatty acids may indicate a higher rate of lipolysis in the ID group.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ACS_Nutr_Sci_2026_1_1_28_35_Figure_2_Metabolomic_differences_between_preoperative_iron_sufficient_and_iron_deficient_groups_d8dc1d7bc1.jpg" alt="ACS Nutr. Sci. 2026, 1, 1, 28–35: Figure 2. Metabolomic differences between preoperative iron sufficient and iron deficient groups. (A) After principal component analysis, a scatter plot was constructed using principal components (PC) 1 and 2, which respectively explained 31.8% and 16% of the variation of the metabolomic data. Red dots represent women in the iron sufficient group (IS) and green dots represent women in the iron deficient group (ID) at the presurgery moment. Ellipses indicate a confidence interval of 95%. (B) Volcano plot shows log 2 of the fold change calculated as a ratio of ID/IS in x-axis and −log 10 of p-values in the y-axis. Blue dots indicate metabolites with a lower abundance and red dots represent metabolites with an increased abundance in the ID (n = 7) group compared to the IS (n = 7) group." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ACS_Nutr_Sci_2026_1_1_28_35_Figure_2_Metabolomic_differences_between_preoperative_iron_sufficient_and_iron_deficient_groups_d8dc1d7bc1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="2014" height="760"></p><p>In the fasting state, adipose tissues are the main source of circulating fatty acids. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between body fat mass and total circulating fatty acid levels calculated by summing the relative abundance of all free and conjugated fatty acids detected in GC/MS. Total fatty acid levels showed a weak positive, nonsignificant, correlation with body fat (rho = 0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.3 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006#fig3">Figure 3</a>A) and a negative correlation with serum iron, but not with serum ferritin (rho = −0.57, <i>p</i> = 0.04 and rho = −0.46, <i>p</i> = 0.10, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006#fig3">Figure 3</a>B,C). Additionally, body fat mass was negatively correlated with serum ferritin, but not with serum iron (rho = −0.48, <i>p</i> = 0.08 and rho = 0.62, <i>p</i> = 0.08; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006#fig3">Figure 3</a>D,E). These data suggest that ID in obesity is associated with an increase in circulating fatty acids during fasting. Moreover, systemic iron deficiency reduced iron availability in adipose tissue (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006/suppl_file/ns5c00006_si_001.pdf">Supplementary Figure 3</a>), which may contribute to altered lipid mobilization under fasting conditions.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ACS_Nutr_Sci_2026_1_1_28_35_Figure_3_Relationship_between_circulating_fatty_acids_body_fat_mass_and_iron_status_in_presurgery_moment_3d983519ba.jpg" alt="ACS Nutr. Sci. 2026, 1, 1, 28–35: Figure 3. Relationship between circulating fatty acids, body fat mass and iron status in presurgery moment. Pearson correlation analysis was performed using presurgery data of total circulating fatty acids with body fat mass (A), serum iron (B), or serum ferritin (C). Correlation between body fat mass and serum iron (D) or serum ferritin (E) was also evaluated. Brown dots represent samples of the ID group (n = 7) and blue dots represent samples of the IS group (n = 7). Solid line shows linear relationship and dotted line represent 95% confidence interval." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ACS_Nutr_Sci_2026_1_1_28_35_Figure_3_Relationship_between_circulating_fatty_acids_body_fat_mass_and_iron_status_in_presurgery_moment_3d983519ba.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1857" height="1009"></p><h4><strong>4. Discussion</strong></h4><p>Iron deficiency is a frequent comorbidity of obesity and may arise due to several interconnected factors, such as chronic low-grade inflammation, which increases hepatic hepcidin production and reduces intestinal iron absorption. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(19)</a> Inadequate diets, with low iron intake and poor nutritional quality, which also contribute to aggravating this condition, in addition to the secondary effects of hormonal and metabolic changes associated with obesity. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(4−6)</a> In this study, we showed that women with obesity and concomitant ID accumulate more body fat and circulating fatty acids compared with those with normal iron status.</p><p>The accumulation of fatty acids under iron-deficient conditions is a biochemically expected consequence, as the catabolism of fatty acids depends on the mitochondrial electron transport chain, which requires iron as a cofactor. However, the fact that elevated levels of circulating fatty acids can exacerbate obesity-related pathological symptoms is not typically considered in clinical management and treatment strategies. One reason this marker is rarely used in clinical practice is the lack of standardization in measurement, and absence of well-established reference ranges. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(20)</a></p><p>Previous studies corroborate our findings that iron deficiency is associated with significant changes in lipid metabolism. In animal models, iron deficiency led to increased levels of fatty acids in the liver and serum, especially linoleic acid. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(21)</a> On the other hand, another study demonstrated that high levels of ferritin are associated with greater mobilization of fatty acids and insulin resistance in obese women, increasing the systemic availability of fatty acids. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(22)</a> Thus, both iron deficiency and excess can deregulate lipid metabolism. In this context, the increase in circulating fatty acids can accumulate in insulin-sensitive organs, such as the liver and muscles, impairing insulin signaling and increasing the risk of insulin resistance. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(23,24)</a> Therefore, assessing and controlling iron levels in obesity can help minimize related complications.</p><p>Regarding the effect of preoperative iron deficiency on the outcome of bariatric surgery, both the IS and ID groups showed weight loss one year after surgery. However, the ID group presented a lower percentage of skeletal muscle mass (PSMM) and muscle-to-fat ratio (MFR) compared to the IS group. These findings are consistent with the literature, which points to a relationship between iron deficiency and lower muscle mass. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(25)</a> Moreover, in this study, significant reduction of leucine and valine was observed only in the ID group, although the levels of these amino acids were not significantly different between the ID and IS groups in postsurgical condition. Nevertheless, we have not assessed iron status in postsurgical samples, but it is known that bariatric surgery itself increases risks for micronutrient deficiency. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(19,26,27)</a> Even though all participants received postoperative nutritional supplementation to prevent such deficiencies, including iron, it is difficult to distinguish presurgical ID effects on postsurgical measures.</p><p>The literature data are somewhat contradictory with regard to the effect of branched chain amino acids (BCAA). In general, it appears that increased BCAA is harmful in unhealthy conditions such as diabetes and obesity. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(28)</a> Specially, valine metabolite, 3-hydroxyisobutyric acid, is known to cause glucotoxicity and impairment of insulin signaling in muscle of mice fed with high fat diet. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(29)</a> Interestingly, the ketogenic metabolite of BCAA, 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, was increased in the ID group compared to the IS group in presurgical conditions (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/acsnutrsci.5c00006/suppl_file/ns5c00006_si_001.pdf">Supplementary Table 5</a>). On the other hand, in healthy conditions, higher levels of BCAA can prevent sarcopenia. <a href="javascript:void(0);">(30,31)</a> Indeed, we observed moderate correlation between postsurgical skeletal muscle mass and leucine levels. Significant reduction in valine and leucine observed after surgery in the ID group might have contributed to the lower postsurgical SMM percentage and muscle-to-fat ratio in that group.</p><p>A limitation of our study is the small sample size. However, due to the lack of a gold standard for diagnosis of ID in obesity, the sample was selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Our results demonstrate that preoperative iron deficiency is associated with changes in body composition and lipid metabolism, which may aggravate conditions related to obesity. To our knowledge, while previous studies have described the association between obesity and iron deficiency and the impact of bariatric surgery on iron status, <a href="javascript:void(0);">(19)</a> there is limited evidence on the effects of iron deficiency both before and after surgery. Our findings provide novel insights and reinforce that proper diagnosis and management of ID in this population may improve overall health and the effectiveness of weight loss strategies.</p>

Iron Deficiency Is Associated with Increased Circulating Fatty Acids and Unfavorable Body Composition in Women with Obesity

<p><strong>In the week of April 20, the following webinars await you in the field of gas / solid phase and especially Raman, FTIR, GC and GC/MS.</strong></p><blockquote><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/webinars"><strong>👉 DETAILS AND REGISTRATION IN THE WEBINARS SECTION</strong></a></h4><p><strong>👉 Search and filter in the largest global database</strong> with over <strong>5 500 GC, LC, MS and spectroscopy webinars</strong>.</p></blockquote><div><div><div><div><div><div><h5><strong>1. Agilent Technologies: Agilent Solutions for Natural Gas Analysis in Coal-to-Gas Acceleration</strong></h5><ul><li>Tu, 21.4.2026 08:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/webinar/6057">Registration</a></li></ul><p>This session covers the holistic landscape, followed by an in-depth look at how the Agilent workflow is specialized and flexible to support operational agility.</p><h5><strong>2. SelectScience: What’s in your hydrogen? Analytical toolkits for fuel purity analysis</strong></h5><ul><li>We, 22.4.2026 10:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/webinar/6055">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Join this dual-session webinar on hydrogen impurity testing and ISO 14687 fuel quality. Learn how GC, GC-MS, IC, and FTIR workflows support safe, compliant hydrogen production and fuel-cell applications.</p><h5><strong>3. Bruker: Introduction to Photothermal AFM-IR for Infrared Spectroscopists</strong></h5><ul><li>We, 22.4.2026 17:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/webinar/6109">Registration</a></li></ul><p>With photothermal atomic force microscope infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR), chemical identification at the nanoscale is achieved by measuring local IR spectra directly at the AFM tip.</p><h5><strong>4. Agilent Technologies: Pesticide Residues &amp; Fumigants Edition</strong></h5><ul><li>Th, 23.4.2026 08:30 CET</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/webinar/5955">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Food Safety Webinar Series – Part 2: Pesticide Residues &amp; Fumigants Edition. Explore LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS workflows, QuEChERS extraction, and regulatory reporting under Codex and EU frameworks.</p><h5><strong>5. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Chromeleon Admin Console III: Data management and automation</strong></h5><ul><li>Th, 23.4.2026 11:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/webinar/6126">Registration</a></li></ul><p>In this practical session, we’ll dive into more Administration Console capabilities that help you manage and standardize your setup at scale.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Webinars LabRulezGCMS Week 17/2026

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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.

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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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Separation Science

Metrohm

Agilent Technologies

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Restek Corporation

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Waters Corporation

<p><strong>Fast gas chromatography (GC) using mass spectrometry (MS) has always been challenging as we have to use a column with sufficient restriction under vacuum-outlet conditions. Short 0.10mm columns will work, but are practically challenging to work with in regards to injection and capacity.</strong></p><p>In 2001 a new concept was presented for speeding up GC-MS analysis using short 0.53mm capillary columns (directly connected at the MS inlet) connected to a restriction column at the inlet, enabling a high vacuum inside the 0.53mm analytical column. Technique is known as LPGC (Low Pressure Gas Chromatography) or sometimes called “Vacuum GC”.</p><p>Under the conditions created, very fast separations were performed as the optimal carrier gas velocity is a function of the actual pressure inside the capillary. Typically, 3x shorter run times are obtained. We trade some efficiency for speed and robustness. Since a MS detector is used, no full chromatographic separation is required. This technique was immediately adopted by Lehotay around 2003 for fast pesticide screening in Quechers extracts of food samples. Together with Lehotay, an optimized pre-assembled robust column for LPGC for fastest possible pesticide screening was developed and will be discussed in detail.</p><p>In this tutorial the basics of LPGC are discussed and the impact it has on the chromatography of - for example - pesticides in food. The technique can be applied for virtually all GC/MS analysis, providing there are no isobars that need to be separated that have more than 100.000 theoretical plates.</p>

Restek: Basics of LPGC (Low pressure GC/Vacuum GC)

Basics of LPGC (Low pressure GC/Vacuum GC)

In this tutorial the basics of LPGC are discussed and the impact it has on the chromatography of - for example - pesticides in food.

<p><strong>On-site chemistry analysis has been a more and more important task of today’s FTIR spectroscopy. Agilent’s Handheld FTIR spectrometer is a unique and innovative platform for measuring samples on site to yield fast and reliable chemistry analyses.</strong></p><p>The ergonomically-designed handheld systems can handle tough sampling situations in which the samples are difficult to be reached by traditional FTIR spectrometers. The versatile system is equipped with variety of accessories such as ATR, Specular Reflection and Diffusive Reflection, making minor-damage or even non-invasive testing practical.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Yanqia Wang, PhD (Application Engineer, Molecular Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)</p><p>Dr. Yanqia Wang started working for Agilent Technologies Inc. as a FTIR application Engineer in 2013, providing pre-&amp;post-sale application support. The products he covers from Bench-top FTIR microscopes to various Mobile FTIR spectrometers. Dr. Wang received his PhD of analytical chemistry from Duke University in 2004, doing dynamic IR spectroscopy research. Then he joined Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics at Duke University, doing Tissue Raman spectrometer instrumentation. Since 2007, Dr. Wang worked for Avery Dennison Corp. as a spectroscopist, providing molecular analytical support to the research &amp; development.</p></blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Handheld FTIR – Best On-site Chemistry Analysis Solution

Handheld FTIR – Best On-site Chemistry Analysis Solution

Agilent’s Handheld FTIR spectrometer is a unique and innovative platform for measuring samples on site to yield fast and reliable chemistry analyses.

<p><strong>It is critical to keep your lab current and one of the ways to achieve this is by leveraging new features and functionality. In this session, we will explore new and upcoming Empower Software features, including:</strong></p><ul><li>Updated functionality to simplify workflows requiring more stringent technical controls</li><li>New features to support expanded workflows</li><li>New data processing features and options</li></ul><p>Please join us for a lively discussion as we explore this topic. &nbsp;As always, please bring your questions for this exclusive opportunity to ask our experts anything about using Empower Software.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Neil Lander (Principal Product Manager, Informatics, Waters Corporation)</p><p>Neil has worked for Waters Corporation since 1994 and has held a variety of positions including Technical Support Specialist, Technical Trainer, Manager Customer Education and currently, Principal Marketing Manager focusing on Informatics solutions. He provides internal support for Empower Chromatography Data System and is focused on developing laboratory software solutions that help organizations achieve their scientific and operational objectives. Prior to joining Waters, he was an analytical chemist where he gained experience in both the cosmetics and specialty chemical industries.</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Dr. Andy Meyer (Senior Application Scientist, Wyatt Technology)</p><p>Dr. Andy Meyer joined Wyatt Technology in 2001, serving for several years as an Applications Scientist, then as Dean of Wyatt's "Light Scattering University" and as Director of Customer Service &amp; Support. After managing multiple regions in North America, Dr. Meyer is now a Senior Application Scientist for Wyatt. As a Wyatt customer, he completed his Ph.D. in Applied Science – Polymer Chemistry from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.</p></blockquote>

Waters Corporation: Empower Tips: Ask Me Anything About What's New in Empower Software

Empower Tips: Ask Me Anything About What's New in Empower Software

In this session, we will explore new and upcoming Empower Software features

Empower Tips What's New in Empower Software

<p><strong>In June 2024, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued a final rule lowering the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable crystallin silica to 50 µg per cubic meter as an 8-hour time-weighted average for all mines, with compliance deadlines in 2025 for coal and 2026 for metal/nonmetal mines. The rule mandates regular exposure monitoring and corrective action if limits are exceeded, with a goal of significantly reducing silica-related illnesses among miners.</strong></p><p>For analysis of the crystallinity of the silica, MSHA-approved methods include X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), with XRD favored because of its accuracy and ability to distinguish silica polymorphs such as quartz and cristobalite. Operators must use accredited laboratories and specified analytical protocols to ensure reliable detection and reporting of respirable crystalline silica.</p><p>This webinar will summarize the new standard, discuss the required analytical instrumentation and detail the XRD measurement plans.</p><p><strong>Key Learning Objectives:</strong></p><ul><li>Learn the new MSHA guidelines</li><li>Review regulations from a global perspective</li><li>Understand the different analytical methods relevant to the standard</li><li>Explore the XRD process for achieving compliance</li></ul><p><strong>Who Should Attend:</strong></p><ul><li>Health and safety manager</li><li>Laboratory managers</li><li>Environmental manager</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Jean-Luc Brousseau, Ph.D. (Sales Director, Anton Paar)</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Melissa O'Meara (Forensic Science Consultant, C&amp;EN Media Group)</p></blockquote>

C&EN: New MSHA Standard Limiting Silica Exposure: Implications and Guidelines for Compliance

New MSHA Standard Limiting Silica Exposure: Implications and Guidelines for Compliance

Webinar will summarize the new standard, discuss the required analytical instrumentation and detail the XRD measurement plans.

MSHA's New Silica Standard and Compliance Tips

<div><p><strong>Environmental air specialists face increasing challenges in monitoring volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs). Evolving regulatory demands and complex compound lists both increase complexity of sampling and analysis. &nbsp;From hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) to emerging contaminants like PFAS and microplastics, the need to deliver accurate, reliable data with robust, future-proof methods is greater than ever.</strong></p><p>In this webinar, Markes’ environmental expert, Aaron Davies, will explore how advanced techniques for thermal desorption–GC–MS, including a range of sorbent and whole air samplers, simplify VOC monitoring and enhance data confidence. Attendees will learn how these methodologies address key challenges, aid compliance with stringent regulations, and provide a scalable solution for environmental air monitoring of a wide range of compounds. Discover how to future-proof your analytical workflows and stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Aaron Davies (Market Development Manager, Markes International)</p></blockquote></div>

Markes International: Fundamentals of Environmental Air Monitoring: Overcoming Challenges in VOC Analysis with Advanced GC-MS Techniques

Fundamentals of Environmental Air Monitoring: Overcoming Challenges in VOC Analysis with Advanced GC-MS Techniques

Learn how advanced TD–GC–MS and sorbent sampling improve VOC monitoring, support regulatory compliance, and future-proof your air analysis workflows.

VOC Air Monitoring with Advanced GC-MS Techniques

<p><strong>Today, laboratories consume a staggering ten times more energy and water than a typical office. Labs with GC and GC/MS systems have unique sustainability challenges due to the resource-intensive nature of these instruments, as they consume large amounts of gas and energy. A more efficient laboratory is a more sustainable one. In this webinar, we will discuss tactics that laboratories can take today to improve the sustainability of their existing GC workflows.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>By focusing on making workflows more productive and efficient, we can lessen laboratory resource consumption and waste. Topics include tactics to minimize carrier gas and energy consumption, GC column scaling to shorten analysis time, alternative carrier gases, and data quality and up-time enhancements from proper consumable selection. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p><h5><strong>By attending this presentation, you will learn about:</strong></h5><ul><li>Simple tactics that can be employed today to optimize workflow efficiency and productivity, thus minimizing resource consumption</li><li>Methods to minimize carrier gas and energy consumption, and GC column scaling to shorten analysis time</li><li>Illustrations of data quality and up-time enhancements from proper consumable selection. &nbsp;</li></ul><h5><strong>Why Should You Attend?</strong></h5><ul><li>According to Agilent customer surveys, 85 percent of labs and organizations have sustainability goals in place, and 83 percent of lab leaders believe their current workflow requires optimization to meet their sustainability ambitions. &nbsp;We will illustrate how existing methods can be scaled and new methods developed to operate more sustainably and profitably. &nbsp;</li></ul><h5><strong>Who should attend:</strong></h5><ul><li>Laboratory technicians, researchers, and scientists wishing to learn more about how to improve operational efficiency and lower the consumption of laboratory consumables</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Vanessa Abercrombie (Gas Chromatography Applications Chemist, Agilent Technologies)</p><p>Vanessa Abercrombie is a GC applications chemist at Agilent Technologies in Folsom, CA. 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, CA, 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.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Ashlee Gerardi (GC Columns Product Manager, Agilent Technologies)&nbsp;</p><p>Ashlee Gerardi is currently a GC columns product manager at Agilent Technologies. She has a B.S. in Chemistry and an MBA in General Management. Over the past 13 years, Ashlee has held a variety of roles and experience in product development and product marketing. She spent five years in GC columns R&amp;D focusing on novel stationary phase and surface chemistries. She then transitioned into marketing roles, including market segment development and strategic market management. &nbsp;</p></blockquote>

Separation Science: How to Build Speed and Sustainability into Your GC Methods

How to Build Speed and Sustainability into Your GC Methods

Discover strategies to boost workflow efficiency and productivity while advancing your lab’s sustainability goals.

<h5><strong>By attending this presentation, you will learn:</strong></h5><ul><li>Non-targeted analytical methodologies for PFAS characterizations</li><li>Practical examples of identifying emerging PFAS in industrial wastewater, indoor dust, and outdoor air</li><li>Evaluation of impact from ski waxes and potentially hydrophobic coatings</li><li>Environmental transport, transformation, and degradation of commercial PFAS materials</li></ul><h4><strong>Presentation 1: Non-targeted screening of per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances by cyclic ion mobility-mass spectrometry</strong></h4><ul><li>Karl J. Jobst, Associate Professor, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador</li></ul><p>Concerns regarding the persistence, bioaccumulation behaviour, and toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) have resulted in the creation of thousands of replacements whose occurrence, environmental fate, and adverse health impacts are unknown. This has driven analytical chemists to develop non-targeted screening (NTS) methods to accelerate the identification of unknown PFAS. Unlike other halogens, such as chlorine or bromine, 19F exists as a single stable isotope; thus, PFAS are not characterized by diagnostic isotope patterns.</p><p>This presentation describes a novel strategy to identify unknown PFAS using gas or liquid chromatographic cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometry (LCxcIMS or GCxcIMS). Unknown PFAS are recognized by having a collision-cross section (CCS) that is less than the sum of 100 Å2 and one fifth of their mass. By filtering the detected unknowns by mass and CCS, novel PFAS were revealed in a variety of environmental media, including industrial wastewater, indoor dust, and outdoor air, and their identities were confirmed through tandem mass spectrometry experiments with (synthesized) standards.</p><h4><strong>Presentation 2: Explore a multidimensional, non-targeted analytical approach using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry to improve PFAS identification</strong></h4><ul><li>Frank Dorman, Senior Business Development Manager, Waters</li></ul><p>Poly/per-fluorinated aliphatic substances (PFAS) are of increasing concern in both the environment and food, and the understanding of their chemical complexity is strategically important. According to published literature, known PFAS chemicals, quantified on a targeted basis using available reference standards, have been shown to account for only 20-30% of total organic fluorine in “traditional source” samples. The remaining 70-80% is derived from other PFAS that are either commercial chemicals for which no reference standards are available, or downstream degradation/metabolism products of commercial chemicals with novel structures. Additionally, it is arguable if the target compound lists associated with regulatory methods even apply to “non-traditional” PFAS sources (non-AFFF, etc.).</p><p>This presentation will describe an analytical approach capable of utilizing both liquid- and gas-chromatographic separations coupled to a high-resolution ion-mobility spectrometer in series with a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This multidimensional, non-targeted separation dramatically improves identification of PFAS compounds. In addition, a post-acquisition data reduction strategy will be discussed, which effectively enables more automated characterization of non-targeted PFAS, either as native or degradation compounds. This becomes especially beneficial in “non-traditional” source contamination or where degradation products are of interest. This methodology will be utilized for a series of environmental forensic applications towards winter sports activities, an emerging area of concern with respect to PFAS contamination in the environment.</p><h5><strong>Who should attend:</strong></h5><ul><li>Environmental scientists and chemists</li><li>Analytical chemists</li><li>Laboratory directors and technical leads</li><li>Contract testing organizations (CTOs)</li><li>Government and academic lab researchers</li><li>Regulatory and risk assessment professionals</li><li>Environmental forensics researchers</li><li>Food safety scientists</li><li>Toxicologists and exposure scientists</li><li>Winter sports organizations and sustainability officers</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Karl J. Jobst (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador)</p><p>Karl J. Jobst is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. He obtained his Ph.D. in gas-phase ion chemistry from McMaster University under the supervision of Professor Johan K. Terlouw. His interests in the chemistry of interstellar clouds soon evolved into more earth-oriented research as a Visiting Fellow at Environment Canada, a Scientist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, as well as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry of his alma mater and in the Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough. His current research focuses on the identification of emerging contaminants and understanding their environmental and human health impacts using novel mass spectrometry and computational methods. Dr. Jobst has (co)authored over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals, and serves on the editorial board of Current Opinion in Environmental Science &amp; Health.</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Frank Dorman &nbsp;(Senior Business Development Manager, Waters)</p><p>Frank Dorman is currently Senior Business Development Manager for Waters focusing on their global environmental business and, concurrently, a resident scholar in the Chemistry Department at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH where he is active in teaching analytical chemistry to undergraduates and graduate students. In his role at Waters, Frank manages the research-focused environmental market, external collaborations, and interfaces with R&amp;D for new product development. Prior to this, Frank was an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) at Penn State University in University Park, PA. At Penn State, Frank served as a member of the Graduate Faculty in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology (BMMB), Chemistry (CHEM), Biogeochemistry (BGC) and the Forensic Science Program (FRNSC) and the Center for Molecular Toxicology and Carcinogenesis. Frank's scientific interests are in gas and liquid chromatography and fundamental characterization, instrumentation and column development, as well as mass spectrometry and atomic spectroscopy as applied to trace analysis in complex sample matrices.</p></blockquote>

SeparationScience: Emerging Strategies in PFAS Identification: Advanced Analytical Approaches for Environmental Samples

Emerging Strategies in PFAS Identification: Advanced Analytical Approaches for Environmental Samples

Explore how advanced non-targeted workflows using ion mobility and HRMS reveal hidden PFAS in environmental samples

PFAS Identification: Advanced Strategies for Environment

<p><strong>The pharmaceutical industry is focusing more and more on reducing the cost of quality control while maintaining compliance and testing frequency.</strong></p><p><strong>In a free webinar on 19 June, Dave van Staveren and Jonas Noguiera from Metrohm International Headquarters will present near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a highly efficient alternative to traditional technologies for the quality control of pharmaceuticals. This non-destructive technology delivers results in seconds, is chemical-free, and complies with regulatory standards, allowing companies to speed up their analytical processes and minimize costs.</strong></p><p>The webinar starts with a look at the basic principles of NIRS and a quick overview of the requirements that regulate QC testing in the pharmaceutical sector. The speakers will then present several application examples that highlight the advantages of this method for analytical testing and how it complies with the regulatory requirements.</p><p>The webinar ends with a Q&amp;A session where the audience can ask the speakers any questions they might have.</p><p><strong>Key Learning Objectives:</strong></p><ul><li>Learn about the basic principles of NIRS and how it works.</li><li>Discover the advantages of using NIRS for pharmaceutical QC.</li><li>Understand how NIRS meets the regulatory requirements.</li><li>Explore various applications demonstrating how compliance, cost, and time savings are achieved simultaneously.</li></ul><p><strong>Who Should Attend:</strong></p><ul><li>QC and QA managers ready to challenge their current analytical methods for a faster, cost-efficient alternative.</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Dr. Dave van Staveren (Head of Competence Center Spectroscopy, Metrohm International Headquarters)</p><p>Dave van Staveren completed his Ph. D. work at the Max-Planck-Institute for Bioinorganic Chemistry in Germany with a strong focus on various spectroscopic methods. After starting his career as a R&amp;D scientist for a Biotech company, he transitioned into Product Management roles in the field of Analytical Instrumentation. In his current position at Metrohm, he has been in charge of NIR Product Management and Application Development since 2016.</p><p><strong>Presenter:&nbsp;</strong>Jonas Motte Nogueira (Product Specialist NIR Spectroscopy, Metrohm International Headquarters)</p><p>Jonas Nogueira is a chemist with substantial practical experience in Near-Infrared spectroscopy. During his over 10-year tenure at Metrohm Brasil, he built a strong foundation in spectroscopy, ion chromatography, and electrochemistry. Currently stationed at Metrohm HQ in Switzerland, he collaborates on an international scale to provide support and implement NIR applications along with integrated laboratory solutions.</p></blockquote>

Metrohm: Streamlining pharmaceutical analysis with NIR spectroscopy: faster, easier, and more efficient

Streamlining pharmaceutical analysis with NIR spectroscopy: faster, easier, and more efficient

Join Metrohm’s free webinar on June 19 to discover how NIRS offers fast, chemical-free, compliant QC for pharma—cutting costs without compromising quality.

Streamlining pharmaceutical analysis with NIR spectroscopy

<p><strong>Join us and special guest speaker Dr. Simone Ruggeri, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Netherlands, for this webinar on Photothermal AFM-IR – Delivering Enhanced Analysis Capabilities for Life Science Research.</strong></p><p>Nanoscale infrared microscopy enables label-free, chemical imaging, and spectroscopy at the nanometre scale by combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) with infrared radiation. Photothermal AFM-IR allows the simultaneous analysis of the chemical, mechanical, and structural properties of materials and heterogeneous biological matter, such as single-molecules and individual monolayers.</p><h5><strong>Highlights will include:</strong></h5><ul><li>Overview of the working principle of Photothermal AFM-IR</li><li>Latest technical advances</li><li>Outline of modes suitable for biological samples, their advantages and limitations</li><li>Innovative applications in life science research</li></ul><p>Dr. Ruggeri will speak about the photothermal AFM-IR technique and using it to determine the molecular fingerprint of biomolecules, the secondary structure of protein and their assemblies, and unravel protein phase transitions in healthy and diseased states.</p><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Dr. Francesco Simone Ruggeri (Assoc. Prof. of Nanoscale Microscopy and Spectroscopy, Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Netherlands)</p><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Dr. Cassandra Phillips (Senior Product Manager, Bruker NanoIR)</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Dr. Qichi Hu (Senior Staff Applications Scientist, Bruker NanoIR)</p></blockquote>

Bruker: Photothermal AFM-IR: Enhanced Analysis Capabilities for Life Science Research

Photothermal AFM-IR: Enhanced Analysis Capabilities for Life Science Research

Join us and special guest Dr. Simone Ruggeri for this webinar on Photothermal AFM-IR – Delivering Enhanced Analysis Capabilities for Life Science Research.

Photothermal AFM-IR: Enhanced Analysis Capabilities

<div><p><strong>Analysing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) across a wide variety of sample matrices can present various challenges depending on the specific method requirements. Modern analytical laboratories require solutions where sensitivity and throughput may still pose challenges alongside limitations in selectivity and manual operation. Robotic automation is commonly used to reduce preparation steps and increase productivity. Combining a sample preconcentration system with gold standard robotics, VOC/SVOC analysis can be performed automatically, providing enhanced sensitivity using HS– and SPME–trap and/or thermal desorption (TD).</strong></p><p>In this webinar, we explore how the Centri 90 platform – from Markes International – combines flexible sampling, robotic automation and unique pre-concentration trapping technology in one system to simplify and enhance workflows. Importantly, we will introduce HiSorb automation on the Centri 90 platform, a high-capacity sorptive extraction technique, which enables improved targeted trace-level analyses and untargeted compound profiling compared to existing sorptive extraction methods. Centri 90’s modular design allows existing PAL3 users to upgrade to automated HiSorb seamlessly, providing more representative chromatographic profiles, increased throughput, and flexibility with phase selection.</p><h5><strong>Learning objectives:</strong></h5><ul><li>Discover how automated high-capacity sorptive extraction can increase throughput and preconcentrate trace-level analytes using trapping technology.</li><li>Learn how to see more from your sample with the use of multiple phases as well as higher phase capacity. &nbsp;</li><li>Understand the benefits of enhanced technique flexibility with Centri 90, with easy switching between sampling techniques on one platform.&nbsp;</li><li>Determine the range of compounds that can be extracted from complex matrices by using immersive and headspace extractions.&nbsp;</li><li>See how your GC–MS system can be seamlessly integrated with automated HiSorb</li></ul></div>

Markes International: Expanding automated sorptive extraction capabilities for GC–MS

Expanding automated sorptive extraction capabilities for GC–MS

Explore how the Centri 90 platform combines flexible sampling, robotic automation and unique pre-concentration trapping technology in one system

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