🎤 Presenter: Christopher Freye (Los Alamos National Laboratory)💾 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/O_1_Freye_10783a9cf3.pdf">PDF presentation</a><h3>Abstract</h3>Two-dimensional gas chromatography (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?instrumentationItems=2">GC×GC</a>) when coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) especially high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) provides the ideal technique to discover minute chemical changes. However, GC×GC analyses result in extremely large datasets (GBs of information) wherein the statistically significant chemical changes are buried within the background chemical matrix. To combat these issues, many chemometric techniques have been developed or applied. Recently we introduced a new chemometric technique for GC-MS termed alteration analysis (ALA) and two-dimensional correlation (2DCOR) which can be used to discover statistically significant chemical changes across a series of chromatograms and understand the relationship between the statistically relevant changes. ALA generates three sets of information, the basic alteration map (BAM) which is the magnitude of the change, the synchronous alteration map (SAM) which describes the linear change, and the asynchronous alteration map (AAM) which describes the non-linear change. 2DCOR can then be used to understand the relationship between the chemical changes but 2DCOR can also resolve the sequence of the changes. A workflow for GC×GC-MS will be demonstrated. Special attention will be given to what differentiates the GC×GC work flow from GC for both the ALA and 2DCOR.<h3>Video Transcription</h3>The presentation focuses on how advanced mathematical and chemometric methods can be used to extract meaningful information from highly complex chromatographic data, especially in multidimensional chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC×GC-MS, LC-MS).<h4>Why traditional data analysis falls short</h4>Modern multidimensional chromatography generates extremely large datasets, often containing billions of data points. Visual inspection, peak tables, or classical identification-based workflows are impractical—especially when:<ul><li>Samples are highly complex (e.g. petroleum, metabolomics, high explosives)</li><li>Most compounds are unknown unknowns</li><li>The key question is not what the compounds are, but whether samples differ and how</li></ul>Program managers and decision-makers are primarily interested in detecting statistically significant changes, not exhaustive compound identification.<h4>Introduction of Alteration Analysis (ALA)</h4>To address subtle, trend-based changes across series of chromatograms, the speaker introduces Alteration Analysis (ALA), a chemometric approach adapted from spectroscopy and applied to chromatography.ALA quantitatively evaluates how individual data points change across multiple samples, allowing detection of:<ul><li>Extremely subtle trends</li><li>Overlapping peaks</li><li>Changes hidden in noise or baseline interference</li></ul>Key ALA outputs include:<ul><li>BAM (Basic Alteration Map): magnitude of change</li><li>SAM (Systematic Alteration Map): linear changes</li><li>AM (Alteration Map): nonlinear changes</li></ul>Even changes as small as 1% per sample can be detected reliably, including peaks that are heavily overlapped.<h4>Beyond detection: understanding relationships with 2D Correlation</h4>Once statistically significant changes are identified, two-dimensional correlation analysis (2D-COR) is used to understand relationships between changing compounds, including:<ul><li>Whether compounds are correlated or anti-correlated</li><li>The sequence of changes over time (which changes happen first)</li></ul>This is especially critical for degradation and aging studies, where intermediate species may appear and disappear before the final state—information that traditional methods like Fisher ratio or PCA often miss.<h4>Solving GC×GC challenges with tiling</h4>GC×GC data introduces additional challenges due to:<ul><li>Peak misalignment</li><li>Exponential data growth during correlation calculations</li></ul>The presenter explains how tile-based approaches reduce data dimensionality, overcome alignment issues, and make ALA and 2D correlation computationally feasible—even for massive GC×GC-MS datasets.<h4>Real-world application: explosive aging studies</h4>The methodology was applied to aging and decomposition of high explosives, where:<ul><li>Over 250 chemical changes were identified</li><li>Many intermediate species would have been missed using traditional comparisons</li><li>ALA combined with 2D correlation enabled reconstruction of degradation pathways</li><li>The most significant change was not necessarily the first change, a critical insight for risk assessment and stability studies</li></ul><h4>Key takeaway</h4>By combining Alteration Analysis and 2D correlation, the approach:<ul><li>Detects statistically guaranteed chemical changes</li><li>Handles subtle, overlapped, and noisy signals</li><li>Determines magnitude, type, interrelationships, and order of changes</li><li>Shifts chromatographic data analysis from identification-driven to decision-driven</li></ul>This math-driven workflow enables faster, more reliable interpretation of complex chromatographic datasets and provides actionable insights for applications such as explosive aging, pharmaceutical degradation, and complex mixture analysis.<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>

Discovery analysis for GCxGC trends using alteration and 2D correlation (Chris Freye, MDCW 2026)

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezGCMS Library in the week of 9th February 2026? Check out new documents from the field of the gas phase, especially GC and GC/MS techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT GCMS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezICPMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you technical note by Agilent Technologies, presentation by MDCW / University of Copenhagen and application notes by Shimadzu and Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: What Causes Spots on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?instrumentationItems=19&amp;manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=PLOT">PLOT Columns</a>? Will It Affect the Performance of the Column?</h3><ul><li>Technical note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/te_what_causes_spots_plot_columns_affecting_performance_5994_8775en_agilent_3b7180512a.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Spots on porous layer open tubular (PLOT) columns are caused by small voids in the stationary phase coating inside the tube. These spots are areas where there is an uneven coating or lack of phase. It is normal to find some voids in the phase coating of PLOT columns. The stationary phase in PLOT columns is an opaque, solid, and porous material. In many Agilent PLOT columns such as the GS-Alumina phases, molecular sieves, porous polymers (Q and U), and the GS-OxyPLOT, the stationary phase is visible as a white powder. For many PLOT columns, the stationary phase fill solution is a viscous suspension of particles that are less than 10 microns in diameter. The phase is coated using a dynamic process in which a plug of fill solution is pushed through the tubing, and the plug’s speed and viscosity determines the thickness of the stationary phase layer. Once the PLOT’s stationary phase is deposited, it is held in place by electrostatic charge, chemical interactions between particles, and/or binding agents. In wall‑coated open tubular (WCOT) columns, stationary phases such as polysiloxanes or polyethylene glycols are immobilized by chemical bonding to the glass surface and cross-linking between polymer strands. Because this type of bonding and cross‑linking is not possible with PLOT phases, the result is a stationary phase layer that is both fundamentally different and inherently less stable in PLOT columns than in WCOT&nbsp;columns.<h3>2. MDCW / University of Copenhagen: One-shot tensor decomposition of full-scale GC×GC-VUV datasets for resolving petrochemical groups</h3><ul><li>Presentation</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/O_17_Schneide_67c8ff7866.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The presentation introduces a novel all-samples-at-once, shift-invariant tri-linear tensor decomposition approach for the analysis of full-scale <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?search=GC%C3%97GC-VUV">GC×GC-VUV</a> datasets, aimed at resolving and quantifying petrochemical groups. Traditional template-based or pixel-based methods struggle with retention-time shifts and co-eluting compounds, often requiring manual intervention and prior chemical knowledge. The proposed approach leverages the intrinsic low-rank structure of GC×GC-VUV data to enable robust, automated group-level analysis across multiple samples simultaneously.At the core of the method is a shift-invariant tri-linear model, conceptually related to PARAFAC and multivariate curve resolution, but extended using frequency-domain (FFT-based) modeling to explicitly account for chromatographic peak shifts. By decomposing the entire dataset in one step, the model provides accurate estimates of peak landscapes, VUV spectra, and relative peak areas, while remaining agnostic to retention-time variability. Importantly, the approach requires only a small number of tunable parameters, making it practical for routine use.The method was demonstrated on a case study involving 14 petrochemical gas-oil samples, including straight-run, hydrotreated, hydroconverted, coker, and light cycle oils. Extracted VUV spectra showed excellent agreement with reference spectra from a VUV spectral database, enabling confident assignment of components to chemical groups such as saturates, olefins, and mono- to poly-aromatics. Quantitative results exhibited high repeatability (RSD typically 3–9%) and strong correlation with established template-based reference methods.Overall, the work demonstrates that one-shot, shift-invariant tensor decomposition provides a powerful and scalable alternative to conventional GC×GC data-analysis strategies. By combining chemical interpretability, robustness to chromatographic shifts, and strong quantitative performance, the approach opens new opportunities for automated, high-confidence group-level analysis of complex petrochemical samples and beyond.<h3>3. Shimadzu: Py-Screener Ver. 3: Simultaneously Test for Substances Regulated Under RoHS, TSCA, and POPs</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00949_en_4754e50164.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h5>User Benefits</h5><ul><li>In just one analysis, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=Py-Screener">Py-Screener</a> Ver. 3 can determine levels of phthalate esters, brominated flame retardants (PBBs, PBDEs), PIP (3:1), UV-328, dechlorane plus (DP), short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs), and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs).&nbsp;</li><li>It can also test for SCCPs and MCCPs by electron ionization (EI) instead of negative chemical ionization (NCI).&nbsp;</li><li>PIP (3:1), UV-328, DP, and SCCPs and MCCPs can be screened without the need for corresponding reference materials.</li></ul>Countries and regulatory bodies worldwide are introducing increasingly stringent regulations on the chemical substances used in electronic devices and industrial products. The RoHS Directive and REACH regulations in the EU, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the USA, and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are also targeting an increasingly broad range of substances. Therefore, manufacturers are required to accurately identify regulated substances in their products and comply with each regulation. While Py-Screener Ver. 2 can screen for seven phthalate esters and brominated flame retardants, including substances regulated under the RoHS Directive, version 3 can also screen for PIP (3:1), which is regulated under the TSCA, as well as UV328, DP, and SCCPs and MCCPs , which are regulated under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. A list of supported substances isshown in Table 1. This article introduces the simultaneous analysis of multiple regulated substances and a case study of testing specific regulated substances in samples, using Py-Screener Ver. 3.<h4>Analysis Process</h4>Py-Screener Ver. 3 can determine levels of phthalate esters and brominated flame retardants contained in products in accordance with the international analytical standards IEC62321-8 and IEC62321-3-3. It can also test for specific regulated substances (Table 1) under the same conditions and in the same analysis. In this test, background intensity and instrument sensitivity (S/N) were verified before analyzing samples. These parameters are prescribed by IEC62321-8 to ensure the accuracy of the methods used. Background intensity and instrument sensitivity were determined using a reference material (PN: 225-31003- 91) *1 that consisted of a plastic sheet that was spiked with seven phthalate esters. The results met the criteria for both parameters.The testing workflow is shown in Fig. 1. Before testing samples, calibration curves were prepared by analyzing the 1000 mg/kg phthalate ester reference material and polypropylene spiked with brominated flame retardants (ERM-EC591). A hole puncher was used to punch out two discs at a time of the phthalate ester reference material, and a cutter was used to obtain pieces of the other materials. Each material was weighed in a sample cup for analysis. During the analysis of samples, phthalate esters and some of the regulated brominated flame retardants were quantitated using a one-point calibration curve. The remaining brominated flame retardants and specific regulated substances were quantitated using the correction factor database*2 that is included with Py-Screener Ver. 3.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Py-Screener Ver. 3 successfully determined in samples the concentrations of the regulated substances PIP (3:1), UV-328, DP, and SCCPs and MCCPs. Normally, SCCP and MCCP levels are tested using NCI, but Py-Screener Ver. 3 uses EI. This enables it to test for not only SCCPs and MCCPs but also phthalate esters, brominated flame retardants, and other regulated substances in just one analysis. In addition, by using the relative correction factors linked to DEHP in the phthalate ester reference material, the levels of these regulated substances were determined without the need for the corresponding reference materials. Py-Screener Ver. 3 can also create a screening program that addresses substance restrictions under the RoHS Directive, the US TSCA, and the POPs Convention.<h3>4. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Improving low carbon steel production in specialty steel processes</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/prima_pro_process_mass_spectrometer_an1626_7fc840235f.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>World crude steel production reached 1,691 million tonnes in 2017, up by 5.3% compared to 2016.1 While much of this capacity is still produced in primary steel processes such as basic oxygen furnaces and electric arc furnaces, the need for refined steel with greater durability and resistance to heat and corrosion has led to the increased use of vacuum degassing processes, such as VOD and RH, in secondary steel production. These processes are able to achieve ultra-low levels of residual carbon, while at the same time retaining desired levels of other alloy materials. If these processes are to achieve the required level of steel product quality, they need fast, continuous gas analysis of the furnace exhaust gas. Without accurate information on the composition of the gas leaving the furnace, any variations in the decarburization process are only detected after the event, resulting in the production of out-of-specification steel.<h4>Advantages of mass spectrometry&nbsp;</h4>Traditional Non-Dispersive Infra-Red (NDIR) analyzers are used in many conventional steelmaking processes to measure CO and CO2 , but they can only sample at atmospheric pressure. In vacuum steelmaking the process pressure changes dramatically, typically from atmospheric pressure down to less than 1 mbar, over the 20-30 minutes of the melt. So NDIR analyzers have to sample some distance downstream from the process. Analytical data is updated several minutes after the gas leaves the melt and the control system is forced to operate on historic rather than real-time data.&nbsp;Paramagnetic analyzers can be used to measure O2 , while thermal conductivity analyzers can be used to measure H2 . These analyzers also suffer from slow response, while the need to operate three different types of analyzers adds to the plant maintenance burden. Moreover, the three analyzers cannot analyze inert gases, so N2 is calculated by difference, a result that suffers from the sum of the errors of the three analytical techniques.&nbsp;Mass spectrometry operates at high vacuum so it is ideal for monitoring vacuum processes. It is also able to monitor all seven components in Table 1 in seconds rather than minutes, ensuring the plant control model is frequently updated with accurate compositional data.<h4>Precision of analysis&nbsp;</h4>At the heart of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=2&amp;search=Prima+PRO+Mass+Spectrometer">Thermo Scientific™ Prima PRO Mass Spectrometer</a> (MS) is a magnetic sector analyzer which offers unrivalled precision and accuracy compared with other mass spectrometers. Thermo Fisher Scientific manufactures both quadrupole and magnetic sector mass spectrometers; over thirty years of industrial experience have shown the magnetic sector based analyzer offers the best performance for industrial on-line gas analysis.&nbsp;Key advantages of magnetic sector analyzers include improved precision, accuracy, long intervals between calibrations, and resistance to contamination. Typically, analytical precision is between 2 and 10 times better than a quadrupole analyzer, depending on the gases analyzed and complexity of the mixture.&nbsp;A unique feature of the Prima PRO magnet is that it is laminated. Its analysis times are similar to a quadrupole analyzer, offering the unique combination of rapid analysis and high stability. This allows the rapid and extremely stable analysis of an unlimited number of user-defined gases. The scanning magnetic sector is controlled with 24-bit precision using a magnetic flux measuring device for extremely stable mass alignment.&nbsp;The ion source is an enclosed type for high sensitivity, minimum background interference, and maximum contamination resistance. This is a high-energy (1000 eV) analyzer that offers extremely rugged performance in the presence of gases and vapors that have the potential for contaminating the analyzer. Typical performance specifications for the Prima PRO MS are shown in Table 1. Analytical performance is demonstrated by analyzing the calibration bottle over 1 hour following calibration, with an analysis time of just 6 seconds. Standard deviations measured on the calibration cylinder will be equal to or better than the stated values.

News from LabRulezGCMS Library - Week 07, 2026

Although modern agriculture needs to be based on accurate real-time data on soil, plant, and environmental conditions, affordable, sufficiently sensitive, and robust monitoring devices for this purpose are currently missing. According to scientists, low-cost sensors based on new smart materials and printing technologies offer a suitable solution. The results of multidisciplinary research thus far and proposals for the development of these devices have been presented by researchers from Czechia, Great Britain, Spain, and the USA in a review article in the prestigious journal <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68778-6#Abs1">Nature Communications</a>.“Sensor technologies for monitoring plant health are still in their infancy. Only simple sensors capable of monitoring basic parameters such as pH, soil moisture, or temperature are commonly available on the market. However, if farmers are to face current challenges, including climate change, and ensure sufficient food for humanity, they need much more effective tools that will enable them to monitor, for example, various pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. In our opinion, a suitable solution is a combination of new smart materials and printing for the production of inexpensive, durable, and scalable materials,” said the article’s first author, David Panáček from CATRIN, who worked on the study during his internship at Imperial College London.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg" alt="CATRIN: David Panáček" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1536" height="1152">Sensors for monitoring plant health, for example, lag behind similar devices used in human medicine. According to the authors, advances in materials science, which will enable the development of scalable sensor technologies, play a key role in this potential shift. “Printing techniques, including inkjet printing, screen printing, aerosol printing, 3D printing, and direct laser writing, offer flexible ways to produce flexible sensors, large-area sensors, and sensors integrated directly into plants. The review article summarizes recent advances in printable low-dimensional materials for agricultural sensors, analyzes their physico-chemical properties in relation to sensor performance, and discusses key challenges and future opportunities requiring interdisciplinary integration,” said one of the corresponding authors, Michal Otyepka.The research brought together materials scientists, chemists, biologists, sensing experts, and printing technology specialists. Materials research and the use of graphene-based smart materials were led by scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University and VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava. Plant biologists from CATRIN contributed their knowledge of plant development, their responses to stress conditions, and the monitoring of their properties. Researchers from Imperial College London took care of the electronics, while representatives from<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/36"> CEITEC – VUT</a> focused on printing technologies. The team also included leading experts in sensing from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona, and Joseph Wang of the University of California San Diego, the “father of sensing and electrochemistry,” also contributed his extensive knowledge.“This is a groundbreaking study on this topic, which has managed to attract some truly big names in their respective fields. Last but not least, the study demonstrates that interdisciplinarity at CATRIN gives rise to completely new and promising research topics, such as plant sensing and its use for studying plant-environment interactions and smart agriculture,” added another corresponding author, Nuria De Diego.

Current sensors are not good enough. Scientists propose a new way to monitor plant health

Article

Application

Video

Presentation

Scientific article

Science and research

The Multidimensional Chromatography (MDC) Workshop draws experts in this exciting field to share and discuss their research.

The Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

CATRIN

Everything from the world of analytical chemistry in one place. We connect people in solving their problems. At Labrulez you will find all the necessary information easily, quickly and clearly. Stop searching and start finding.

LabRulez

The Analytical Scientist

Agilent Technologies

SepSolve Analytical

LECO

PerkinElmer

Frontier Lab

SelectScience

Shimadzu Corporation

What could we gain if we are able to combine multiple analyses that were run on separate instruments into a single GC-QQQ method with one injection? Could we reduce turnaround time, increase our productivity, reduce bench spaced needed and consolidate our data analysis? Strategies for streamlining the method development process and batch review using MassHunter software tools will also be discussed.
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Presenter: Rachael Ciotti (GC/MS Application Specialist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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<blockquote>
Rachael Ciotti is a GCMS Application Specialist at Agilent Technologies in Wilmington, DE. Previously, she was a Field Service Engineer specializing in installing, maintaining, and repairing Agilent GC and GC/MS systems. Prior to joining Agilent, Rachael worked at DuPont as an analytical chemist responsible for GC and GC/MS method development and transfer to manufacturing labs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rutgers University.
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<blockquote>
Presenter: Eric Fausett (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Eric Fausett is an Application Scientist at Agilent Technologies with a focus on GC methodologies. Prior to his 6 years at Agilent, Eric worked for 15 years as a contractor to various US Government laboratories as a Project Scientist, GC Applications Chemist and Laboratory Manager.
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<blockquote>
Presenter: Dale Walker (GCMS Applications Specialist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Agilent Technologies: Unleash The Power Of GC-QQQ In Your Environmental Laboratory

Unleash The Power Of GC-QQQ In Your Environmental Laboratory

In our Microplastics Symposium, hear from industry experts and peers working within the field of Microplastics.
With a mixture of live talks across various topic areas and product demonstrations, this event is a great opportunity to uncover more about microplastics analysis in the lab. We will also have our experts available to chat live on the day, allowing you to further increase your knowledge and skills on this topical issue.
<h3>What topic areas can you expect to see on the day?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Microplastics Analysis with the 8700 LDIR with a focus on the marine environment;</li>
<li>Quantification of Microplastics with GC/MSD;</li>
<li>Current activities in the world of standardization;</li>
<li>Microplastics Analysis with the GC/Q-TOF;</li>
<li>And more.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Agenda Live Sessions</h3>
<h5>08:30 BST | 09:30 CET Plastic Pollution - Sources, Pathways and Solutions</h5>
Presenter: Joao Frias (Marine litter and microplastic researcher Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology)
<h5>09:00 BST | 10:00 CET Microplastic Analytics: Current Activities in the World of Standardisation</h5>
Presenter: Claus Gerhard Bannick (Head of wastewater technology research at the Federal Environment Agency)
<h5>09:30 BST | 10:30 CET Status of microplastics characterization via ICP-mass spectrometry</h5>
Presenter: Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez (Postdoctoral Researcher | Ghent University)
<h5>10:00 BST | 11:00 CET Mass Balance Measurements in Microplastics: An Analytical Comparison of Thermal Extraction, Pyrolysis, and Thermal Extraction – Desorption GC/MS</h5>
Presenter: Kurt Thaxton (International Product Manager, Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis | Gerstel)
<h5>10:30 BST | 11:30 CET Detecting microplastics in environmental samples – examples from sludge, mussels, and release experiments</h5>
Presenter: Anders Baun (Head of Department | DTU Environment)
<h5>11:00 BST | 12:00 CET Approaches for the Evaluation of FTIR images</h5>
Presenter: Jana Weisser (Scientist PhD | Technical University of Munich (TUM))
<h5>11.30 BST | 12:30 CET Thermal analytical methods for Microplastics Analysis</h5>
Presenter: Ulrike Braun (Head of department | German Environmental Agency)
<h5>12.00 BST | 13:00 CET Analysis of microplastics and organic contaminants in marine matrices</h5>
Presenter: Laure Papillon (Engineering Administrative Technician | Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography; Mélanie Ourgaud, Post-doc | Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography)
<h5>13:00 BST | 14:00 CET Microplastics in aqueous samples – Requirements for sample preparation and analysis</h5>
Presenter: Svenja Mintenig (Phd Student | University of Wageningen)
<h5>13:30 BST | 14:30 CET Nano- and Microplastics Analysis via LDIR and ICP-MS</h5>
Presenter: Lars Hildebrandt (Researcher - Inorganic Environmental Chemistry | Helmholtz-Zntrum Hereon)
<h5>14:00 BST | 15:00 CET Looking beyond the polymer: Characterisation of Microplastics by Thermal Desorption GC/MS</h5>
Presenter: Helen Martin (Business Unit Manager - Thermal Desorption Instruments | Markes International)
<h5>14:30 BST | 15:30 CET Purency- Machine Learning vs. Databases: A question of speed, accuracy and scalability</h5>
Presenter: Benedikt Hufnagl (Chief Technology Officer at Purency | Vienna University of Technology)
<h5>15:00 BST | 16:00 CET Screening of Plastic Addititves and Organic contaminates in microplastics exposed to the Marine Environment by GC-QTOF and LC-QTOF</h5>
Presenter: José Benito Quintana (Associate Professor | Universidade de Santiago de Compostela)
<h5>15:30 BST | 16:30 CET Effective Digestion of Fish Stomachs and subsequant microplastics by LDIR</h5>
Presenter: José Manuel Andrade-Garda (Professor of Analytical Chemistry | University of Coruna)
<h5>16:00 BST | 17:00 CET Environmentally relevant weathered polymer libraries: The current absence, the urgent need, and the potential usage</h5>
Presenter: Rick McCumskay, PhD (Researcher | University of Hull)
<h5>16:30 BST | 17:30 CET Analysis of microplastics in the gastro-intestinal tract of fishes using LDIR chemical imaging</h5>
Presenter: Florian Breider (Head of Unit | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne - EPFL)

Agilent Technologies: Agilent - Microplastics in the Environment Virtual Symposium 2021

Agilent - Microplastics in the Environment Virtual Symposium 2021

Microplastics Analysis in the environment is a challenging task because of its micro/Nano sizes and trace/ultra-trace level concentrations (ppb and sub ppb). Although the presence of microplastics in drinking water, seawater, sediment, biota and even in air is reported by numerous reports, there are still many unanswered questions in terms of method selectivity, sensitivity and data quality. Still researchers are looking for right choice of protocol for sampling and sample preparations and analysis.
For analysis, techniques like FTIR, Raman Spectroscopy, Fluorescence Spectroscopy are most commonly used. But all these methods have its own challenges. We will be presenting a new method for the analysis of Microplastics which is based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (PY-GCMS). Microplastics identification and quantification by PGCMS is boosted by Frontier Lab’s Microplastic Software. 
In this webinar, you will get to learn about microplastics and its importance, Current methods and Challenges, a new method using PYGCMS and a Software. Please come and join OUR WEBINAR to learn more about it. 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Sathrugnan Karthikeyan
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Ichi Watanabe
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Frontier Laboratories: Identification and quantification of environmental microplastics

Identification and quantification of environmental microplastics 

<blockquote>
Presenter: Bill Hahn (Principle Field Application Specialist, PerkinElmer)
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Bill has had an extensive 40 year career beginning with Forensics/methods development, then consulting for several years before being Vice president of operations for a chain of environmental testing labs, including a CLP lab and over 200 chemists. Founded and operated a calibration standard company for 18 years. After selling his company, Bill started with PerkinElmer in 2012, where he is a Principle Field Application Specialist for GC, GC/MS and the portable GC/MS systems in North America.
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Pixabay/wiredsmartio: Portable GC/MS Tips & Tricks

Portable GC/MS Tips & Tricks

Headspace sampling is a simple and elegant method for volatile organic compound (VOC) extraction, which has been successfully used to detect and quantify biomarkers for respiratory disease and liver impairment.
Learn about an optimized method for the detection of key analytes such as aldehydes, alkanes and ketones from culture media samples. The method combines high-capacity sorptive extraction technology with automated thermal desorption (TD), coupled with gas chromatography (GC) separation and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, to provide reliable detection below 1 ng and high-throughput analysis of samples.
This webinar will showcase how Owlstone Medical, in collaboration with Markes, has developed headspace analytical methods for the detection of volatile biomarkers, putting us much closer to breath-based diagnostics for lung disease and liver impairment.
<h3>By attending this webinar, you will:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Learn about HiSorb™ for the extraction and analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds as indicators of disease and organ impairment</li>
<li>See how the Centri® platform can fully automate sample extraction &amp; desorption, improving laboratory productivity and analytical sensitivity.</li>
<li>Understand how analyte preconcentration, using cryogen-free trapping technology, can be optimized for low-level compounds of interest in complex sample types</li>
<li>Hear how the technique helped to overcome complex challenges, enabling the discovery of biomarkers to advance breath-based diagnostics</li>
</ul>
<h3>Who should attend?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Laboratories thinking of extending their sample extraction and analysis portfolio to answer growing business and research demands</li>
<li>Scientists interested in simplifying and expediting the analysis of complex samples, whether for discovery and development or routine monitoring and quality control</li>
<li>Environmental, flavor, scents, toxicology and diagnostics scientists</li>
<li>Laboratory managers/directors/supervisors interested in how advanced analytical techniques can provide a competitive edge and expand capabilities</li>
</ul>
<h3>Certificate of attendance</h3>
<ul>
<li>All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary for continuing education purposes.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Alexandra Martin (Analytical research &amp; Development Scientist, Owlstone Medical Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Following her MSci in natural sciences at the University of Birmingham, Alexandra also completed her Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry at the University of Birmingham in 2020, researching the physicochemical differences between mammalian and bacterial model cell membranes. She joined Owlstone in 2020 as an applications scientist and now works in breath biopsy test projects aiming to diagnose early-stage lung cancer and other diseases using breath sampling, with a focus on headspace GC-MS techniques.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rachael Szafnauer (Applications Scientist, Markes International Ltd)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rachael Szafnauer received an MSci in forensic science from the University of South Wales, UK, where her final-year project focused on fingerprinting emerging psychoactive substances using advanced techniques such as GCxGC–TOF MS, in collaboration with Markes International. She later took up the role of thermal desorption product specialist at Markes, providing technical and application support to the commercial team, before taking on her current role as product marketing manager for the Centri product line and specializing in the development of applications using extraction and enrichment techniques for GC-MS.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Sarah Thomas (Selectscience)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Sarah studied biology at the University of Bath, UK, and has worked in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis. As a member of the Editorial team, Sarah plays an integral role in shaping the content on SelectScience.
</blockquote>

Unsplash/Brett Jordan: Detect, discover, diagnose: Uncovering biomarkers to advance non-invasive breath-based diagnostics

Detect, discover, diagnose: Uncovering biomarkers to advance non-invasive breath-based diagnostics

The trend in polymer analysis by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is toward using a generic high-throughput screening method with a single instrument that is capable of fast switching among multiple sample introduction techniques.
Learn about the capability of the instrument under various configurations, as well as the application roadmap with specific case studies to pick the optimized sampling method.
<h3>Learning Objectives:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Learn the capability of Pyroprobe in evolved gas analysis, flash pyrolysis, thermal desorption, kinetics, dynamic headspace, heart-cutting and photochemistry</li>
<li>Learn about the Pyroprobe application roadmap to pick the proper technique</li>
<li>Learn about specific application examples in polymer analysis by using the Pyroprobe</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenters: Karen Sam (Lab Manager, CDS Analytical)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Karen is the Lab Manager at CDS Analytical. Karen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Bloomsburg University, in Bloomsburg, PA. Karen has over 20 years of experience in sample preparation and analysis, including 15 years in application development experience, supporting the design and testing of new sample introduction instruments, specializing in analytical pyrolysis for CDS Analytical.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenters: Roger Tank (Senior Sales Manager, CDS Analytical)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Roger is a Senior Sales Manager for CDS Analytical. With a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Roger has over 30 years of Technical Sales and Business Development experience in the Analytical Instrumentation field, of which 15 years was with Agilent Technologies managing The Dow Chemical Company account at their headquarters in Midland, MI.
</blockquote>

The Analytical Scientist: Explore the Benefits of a Multi-function Thermal Injection System for Gas Chromatography

Explore the Benefits of a Multi-function Thermal Injection System for Gas Chromatography

We will discuss the use of a versatile GC sample introduction instrument (Pyroprobe) from CDS Analytical with GC–MS to increase analytical throughput. 

Multi-function Thermal Injection System for GC

<a href="https://gcms.cz/products?search=pegasus&amp;manufacturerItems=24&amp;instrumentationItems=3">LECO&#39;s Pegasus®</a> line is designed to take full advantage of the speed of TOFMS analyses without sacrificing the sensitivity you need, and our<a href="https://gcms.cz/library?search=+stayclean&amp;mainauthorItems=24"> StayClean®</a> Ion Source means you never have to slow down to clean out your engine.
The advantages of helium as a carrier gas for mass spectrometers have long been known, but it is a limited natural resource with varied supplies and expenses. On the other hand, hydrogen gas generators can be installed in any lab for a constant supply and, conveniently, increased chromatographic speeds.
Join LECO&#39;s panel of experts for a one-day forum to discuss how to overcome the challenges of switching from helium to hydrogen, the analytical and business impacts of adding hydrogen generators to your lab, and how the resulting mass spectral profiles compare between helium and hydrogen gases.
<h3>Forum Talks</h3>
<h4>Fast GC/Hydrogen Method Transfer Overview &amp; Application Examples</h4>
Helium is a limited natural resource with huge variations in both supply and expense. At the same time, the advantages of hydrogen to achieve increased chromatographic throughput in GC applications is attractive. The transferral of methods to hydrogen carrier gas can be problematic due to limitations and challenges associated with some types of mass spectrometry technology used. In particular, the mass spectral quality and fragmentation, in comparison with that obtained using helium, as well system sensitivity and also, system robustness and acquisition rate are important factors which can differ and negatively affect results. In this study we have investigated the use of a particular type of GC-TOF-MS technology in regards to overcoming these issues. The method transfer approach, technology benefits, and application examples are presented.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Nick Jones an David Benanou
</blockquote>
<h4>Flow Modulated Fast Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography Combined With Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: A Comparison Between the use of Helium and Hydrogen as Carrier Gas</h4>
The present research is focused on the comparison between the use of hydrogen and helium carrier gases, within the context of flow-modulation fast comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. All experiments were carried out by using the following column set: low polarity with dimensions 10 m × 0.25 mm ID × 0.25 µm df and medium polarity with dimensions 2 m × 0.10 mm ID × 0.10 µm df. Fundamental gas chromatography parameters (efficiency, resolution) were measured under different experimental conditions, using the two carrier gases. Efficiency was measured in both the first (using C12 alkane) and second (using naphthalene) dimensions; after defining the optimum carrier gas conditions, a sample of diesel was analyzed, with the overall separation evaluated to make final conclusions on the analytical performances. Finally, a comparison was made between mass spectral profiles obtained analyzing fatty acid methyl esters and pesticides.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Peter Q. Tranchida and Luigi Mondello (University of Messina, Messina, Italy)
</blockquote>
<h4>Switch to Fast GC Easily - Theory and Practice</h4>
There a number of ways that the analysis time can be reduced. It all depends on how well the components are separated in the present application. Most easy is to trade in some resolution for speed using higher gas velocities or using a shorter column. If the exact separation must be maintained, a choice has to be made between using hydrogen as carrier gas, or use a smaller ID capillary column (or a combination). What is important is that in the new method, the same chromatogram (and peak elution order) must be obtained. Using the EZGC method translator, you can simply calculate the oven program you need for that. Also, in the ProEZGC chromatogram modeler, you can see the impact of any changed parameter, just using your laptop.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jaap de Zeeuw (Restek)
</blockquote>
<h4>Advantages of Hydrogen Generators: Usage, Costs, and Safety Made Easy</h4>
Analytical laboratories use a variety of analytical techniques as part of their research and development and quality control of products. Many of these processes require high purity gases, many of which can be produced by gas generators. For a number of reasons, including safety, cost, convenience, and analytical throughput, more and more labs are abandoning hydrogen cylinders in favor of hydrogen gas generators to supply the gases they require for their analyses. During this session, Jean-Marie Casanova will cover analytical and business impacts about implementing Hydrogen gas generators in your lab.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jean-Marie Casanova (Sales Director, F-DGSi)
</blockquote>

LECO: Designed for Speed: A Fast-GC Forum

Designed for Speed: A Fast-GC Forum

Reliable analysis of foods and beverages is vital for quality control, new product development and in authenticity studies. In this webinar, we will describe the use of automated sample extraction and enrichment combined with GC×GC–TOF MS for comprehensive non-target screening of aroma volatiles from food and beverages. Additionally, we will demonstrate the use of simple data analysis workflows to discover significant differences between complex aroma profiles and allow meaningful conclusions to be drawn in quality and authenticity studies.
Our guest speaker, Dr Taylor Hayward from Apeel Sciences, will then discuss how this technology has been applied in his research into the volatiles emitted by fruit, and their potential as indicators of fruit quality.
<h3>Key learning objectives:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Find out how Centri® can offer high sensitivity unattended sampling and pre-concentration of VOCs and SVOCs in liquid, solid and gaseous samples.
</li>
<li>See how two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) using INSIGHT® flow modulation allows you to discover more from aroma profiles.
</li>
<li>Learn about the advantages of BenchTOF2 mass spectrometers for sensitive detection, confident identification, and easy-to-use workflows.
</li>
<li>See how smart ChromCompare+ software can automatically ‘spot the difference’ between complex VOC profiles. 
</li>
<li>Hear about the real-world application of this technology for quality evaluation of fruit and vegetables, such as avocados, mandarins and mangoes.
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Matthew Edwards (Business Development Manager, Americas - SepSolve Analytical)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Matt studied analytical chemistry at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, with particular emphasis on multi-dimensional separations. Matt remains based in Waterloo, from where he oversees the development of new markets and opportunities in the Americas, as well as providing technical and sales support.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Taylor Hayward (Director of Analytical Sciences, Apeel)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Taylor Hayward is the Director of Analytical Sciences at Apeel, a startup company that uses food to preserve food. Apeel’s mission is to work with nature to improves access to quality, reduce waste, and ensure an abundant future for the planet. The Analytical Sciences group developments measurement methods to ensure quality throughout the Apeel process: from agricultural waste feedstocks to the Apeel product to the resulting produce.
</blockquote>

SepSolve: Non-target workflows for improved quality and authenticity evaluation of food and beverages

Non-target workflows for improved quality and authenticity evaluation of food and beverages

Detection and determination of nitrosamine impurities in drug manufacturing processes have become very critical in the pharmaceutical industry. In recent years, some manufacturers have recalled certain drugs as a precautionary measure after nitrosamine impurities were found in some drugs. Nitrosamines are categorized by the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) as 2A – Probable Carcinogens.
Because of the physicochemical properties of nitrosamines, such as low molecular weights, volatility, and high toxicity, analytical methods for nitrosamines require specificity, excellent chromatographic separation, and extremely sensitive detection capability. 
Shimadzu presents various analytical methods for quantitative determination of nitrosamine compounds in drugs and solvents. These methods are developed with reference to methods published by international organizations such as the US FDA and use gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS and GC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach. 
Join us for this webinar to know more about these analytical methods and find out how Shimadzu can meet your nitrosamines analysis needs. 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Tuna Oncu (Assistant Manager, Shimadzu Middle East &amp; Africa)
</blockquote>

Shimadzu: Shimadzu Solutions for Nitrosamine Analysis in Pharmaceuticals

Shimadzu Solutions for Nitrosamine Analysis in Pharmaceuticals

With the huge success of our Cannabis Testing Townhall Parts 1 &amp; 2, we invite you to join our experts for Cannabis Townhall Part 3: The Analysis of Edibles.
The analysis of edibles is notoriously difficult and complex without a one-size-fits-all solution. To make matters worse, most published information is written for flower or concentrates, leaving the analysts to develop completely new sample preparation methods on their own. Furthermore, analysts will need to spend additional time optimizing those methods—a necessary task as a lack of optimization can lead to significant instrument downtime and highly irreproducible results, affecting your bottom line.
The good news? We have optimized those methods for you! Join us on October 12th and chat with our edibles experts about some of the most difficult challenges and pitfalls of chocolate, beverages, and gummies and hard candies analyses. Then, learn how we have addressed those unique challenges for you. Most of the time will be spent in a live Q&amp;A session with our edibles experts, so come prepared to ask us anything!
Detailed learning objectives/What attendees will learn through attending this webinar:
<ol>
<li>Identify strategies to overcome some of the most difficult challenges and pitfalls of chocolate, beverages and gummies &amp; hard candies analyses.</li>
</ol>
Who should attend:
<ul>
<li>Future or current cannabis lab managers</li>
<li>Future or current cannabis Lab investors</li>
<li>Future or current cannabis testing lab analysts and chemists</li>
<li>Entrepreneurs considering starting a cannabis testing lab or branch</li>
</ul>
<h5>Panelists will be:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Greg Kozadjian - Agilent Emerging Markets Business Development-Cannabis Testing</li>
<li>Heather Reece - Agilent Emerging Markets, National Account Manager </li>
<li>Anthony Macherone - Agilent Senior Applications Scientist</li>
<li>Pete Stone - Agilent LC/MS Applications Scientist </li>
<li>JF Roy - Agilent MS Applications Scientist</li>
<li>Christophe Deckers - Agilent Sample Prep Applications Scientist</li>
<li>Craig Jones - Agilent ICP-MS Applications Scientist</li>
<li>Jenny Nelson –Agilent ICP-MS Applications Scientist</li>
<li>Eric Farrell - Milestone Product Specialist</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Greg Kozadjian (Emerging Markets Business Development-Cannabis Testing, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Originally a biochemist, Greg Kozadjian has been responsible for emerging market opportunities within Agilent North America ever since he obtained his MBA, focusing on the cannabis testing industry. Greg guides Agilent and their customers to establish the best cannabis testing standards for the short-term interests and the long-term benefits of the industry. In touch with the industry’s trends, Greg has attended almost all the major cannabis tradeshows and is currently working with licensed producers and testing labs in Canada, the US and Latin America. His experience with cannabis material and other drugs began during his time working at the Montreal Forensics lab to develop an “Express” method analyzing 300 drugs, in urine and blood, by LC-MS. He has been exposed to the drug-development world through his experiences in the pre-clinical pharmaceutical industry. Greg is passionate about developing the cannabis industry and reducing its stigma among the masses.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Heather Reece (Emerging Markets National Account Manager, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Heather brings over 10 years of experience serving the cannabis industry. She started her career as a chemist with a leading manufacturer of products for crop production and pest management. Shortly thereafter she made the transition from the bench to the field as an analytical instrumentation Technical Support Specialist.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Located in Northern California, she has been on the forefront of cannabis testing for years providing a bridge between applications and implementation.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
As Agilent’s National Account Manager for Emerging Markets with a current focus on cannabis and hemp, she interacts with new and existing customers daily to help them understand their current efficiencies and plan for the future. Heather’s goal is to make the process of testing as simple and efficient as possible while maintaining a foundation of sound scientific principles.
</blockquote>

GCMS webinars focusing on GC/MS - page 46