<blockquote>Vítejte zpět u tématu ochrany GC kolony! Pokud jste zmeškali <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.cz/article/6767">první část</a> nebo si chcete své znalosti osvěžit, další tipy k ochraně GC kolony najdete <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.cz/article/6767">zde</a>.</blockquote>Ochrana GC kolony a jednotlivých komponent přístroje před znečištěnými vzorky nebo kontaminanty je zásadní. Netěkavé nebo vysokomolekulární složky mohou kontaminovat stacionární fázi, což vede ke zhoršení rozlišení píků, nižší přesnosti analýzy a zkrácení životnosti kolony. Odříznutí poškozené části kapilární kolony často dočasně obnoví její účinnost, postupem času však dochází k degradaci, která znemožní další použití kolony. Pokud pozorujete rychlý pokles účinnosti separace, existuje několik jednoduchých způsobů, jak kolonu lépe chránit a prodloužit její životnost.<h3>Používejte liner se skelnou vatou</h3>Liner je první obrannou linií kolony a jeho volba má zásadní vliv na množství kontaminantů, které se mohou dostat do kolony. Nejjednodušším řešením je použití lineru s malým množstvím silanizované skelné vaty, která zachycuje netěkavé složky a zabraňuje jejich přímému vstupu do kolony.<blockquote>Upozornění: Skelná vata může zvyšovat aktivitu vůči kyselinám, zásadám a pesticidům. Drcení skelné vaty může odhalit nedeaktivované sklo a volné silanolové skupiny (–OH), a to i v případě, že byla vata původně deaktivována. To vede ke zvýšené aktivitě a horší reprodukovatelnosti, proto se důrazně doporučuje používat předplněné linery, nikoli linery plněné svépomocí.</blockquote>Kromě volby lineru se skelnou vatou dbejte také na to, aby byl liner (stejně jako ostatní spotřební materiál) bez nahromaděných nečistot, které se mohou v průběhu času vytvářet. Zbytky ze sept, jádra sept a další částice se mohou zachytit ve skelné vatě a často nejsou na první pohled patrné. Pravidelná výměna lineru (a dalšího spotřebního materiálu dle potřeby) pomáhá omezit potřebu řešení problémů a zjednodušuje údržbu systému.<h3>Vypalujte kolonu (bake-out)</h3>Nejjednodušším způsobem, jak snížit kontaminaci kolony, je zařadit krátký vysokoteplotní „bake-out“ (vypalování) na konec standardní GC metody. Tento krok pomáhá odstranit vysokovroucí kontaminanty, které by jinak v koloně zůstávaly a způsobovaly její poškození.Při vypalování musí být konečná teplota pece nastavena dostatečně vysoko, aby došlo k eluování těchto složek, ale zároveň nesmí být překročena teplota, při které by došlo k tepelnému poškození kolony. Vypalování lze provádět buď izotermicky, nebo – častěji – postupným zvyšováním teploty pece až do eluce posledních složek z kolony.<blockquote>Upozornění: Nikdy nepřekračujte maximální povolenou provozní teplotu kolony. Při izotermickém provozu nepřekračujte horní teplotní limit kolony po dobu delší než 15 minut.</blockquote>

Jak chránit GC kolonu – část 2

Zveme Vás na sérii krátkých, ale praktických online seminářů, které jsme připravili pro všechny, kdo pracují s chromatografií a laboratorní analýzou. Každý z webinářů je zameřený na jedno konkrétní analytické téma a nabídne jasné tipy, rešení nejčastejších problémů i doporučení.Již 13. 2. 2026 od 10:00 hodin se mužete tešit na téma: Sample Prep and Analysis for Fat-soluble Vitamins.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Altium_priprava_vzorku_pro_analyzu_vitaminu_rozpustnych_v_tucich_1b280b7ea1.jpg" alt="Altium - Agilent: Příprava vzorků pro analýzu vitamínů rozpustných v tucích – tipy a aplikace" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Altium_priprava_vzorku_pro_analyzu_vitaminu_rozpustnych_v_tucich_1b280b7ea1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="842" height="286"><blockquote><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/494d4b0d-da70-4504-9720-1bc7f82524fe@31139e4d-0687-4dc9-ada3-e46652ffbd94/registration">Registrujte se na webinář pomocí tohoto odkazu</a></blockquote>Vitamíny rozpustné v tucích jsou přirozenou součástí lipidové frakce potravin, kde se vyskytují společně s triglyceridy, steroly, fosfolipidy a dalšími lipidy. Tato „těsná spolupráce“ s ostatními tukovými složkami sice dává biochemický smysl, ale z analytického hlediska výrazně komplikuje jejich izolaci a přesné stanovení.Tradiční postupy přípravy vzorků jsou často časově náročné, pracné a náchylné k chybám, což se negativně promítá do reprodukovatelnosti i výtěžnosti analýzy. Řešení pro přípravu vzorků od společnosti Agilent Technologies tento problém mění v konkurenční výhodu: zjednodušují a urychlují celý pracovní postup, zajišťují konzistentní a reprodukovatelné výsledky a maximalizují výtěžnost analytů i v těch nejkomplexnějších matricích potravin a doplňků stravy.Výsledkem je spolehlivější analytika, vyšší efektivita laboratoře a jistota dat, na která se lze skutečně spolehnout.Webinář bude probíhat v anglickém jazyce.<blockquote>Přednášející: EMEAI IDO (Product Specialist Chemistries and Supplies, Agilent Technologies)Giorgio got his Master Degree in Chemistry at the University of Trieste, Italy.He has more than 20 years of experience in Chromatography Columns troubleshooting, sales and business development.He covered various international positions and at present is Agilent Product Specialist EMEAI-IDO, and responsible for developing the Agilent Chemistries and Supplies business in the indirect sales channels of Central Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.</blockquote>

Altium - Agilent webinář: Příprava vzorků pro analýzu vitamínů rozpustných v tucích – tipy a aplikace

Ačkoliv moderní zemědělství potřebuje vycházet z přesných dat o půdních, rostlinných i environmentálních podmínkách v reálném čase, cenově dostupná, dostatečně citlivá a zároveň robustní monitorovací zařízení pro tento účel v současné době chybí. Jako vhodné řešení se podle vědců nabízí nízkonákladové senzory založené na nových chytrých materiálech a technologiích tisku. Dosavadní výsledky multiioborového výzkumu i návrhy na vývoj těchto zařízení představili výzkumníci z Česka, Velké Británie, Španělska i USA v přehledovém článku v prestižním časopise <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68778-6#Abs1">Nature Communications</a>.„Senzorické technologie pro monitorování zdraví rostlin jsou stále v plenkách. Na trhu jsou běžné dostupné jen jednoduché senzory, které jsou schopné monitorovat pouze základní parametry jako například pH, vlhkost v půdě, případně teplotu. Pokud však mají zemědělci čelit současným výzvám včetně klimatických změn a zajistit pro lidstvo dostatek potravy, potřebují mnohem účinnější pomocníky, jež jim umožní monitorovat například i různé patogeny včetně bakterií či plísní. Podle nás je vhodným řešením kombinace nových chytrých materiálů a tisku pro produkci levných, odolných a škálovatelných materiálů,“ uvedl první autor článku David Panáček z CATRIN, který na studii pracoval během své stáže v 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">Senzory pro monitorování zdraví rostlin například v porovnání s podobnými zařízeními pro humánní medicínu pokulhávají. Klíčovou roli v možném posunu hraje podle autorů pokrok v materiálových vědách, jenž vývoj škálovatelných senzorových technologií umožní. „Tiskové techniky včetně inkoustového tisku, sítotisku, aerosolového tisku, 3D tisku a přímého laserového zápisu nabízejí flexibilní cesty k výrobě ohebných senzorů, senzorů pro velké plochy i senzorů integrovaných přímo do rostlin. Přehledový článek shrnuje nedávný pokrok v oblasti tisknutelných nízkorozměrných materiálů pro zemědělské senzory, analyzuje jejich fyzikálně-chemické vlastnosti ve vztahu k senzorovému výkonu a diskutuje hlavní výzvy a budoucí příležitosti vyžadující mezioborovou integraci,“ uvedl jeden z korespondujících autorů Michal Otyepka.Výzkum propojil materiálové vědce, chemiky, biology, odborníky na senzing i technologie tisku. Materiálový výzkum a využití chytrých materiálů na bázi grafenu zaštítili vědci CATRIN Univerzity Palackého a VŠB-Technické univerzity Ostrava, znalostmi o vývoji rostlin, jejich reakcích na stresové podmínky i monitorování jejich vlastností přispěli rostlinní biologové z CATRIN, o oblast elektroniky se postarali výzkumníci z Imperial College London, technologiím tisku se věnovali zástupci <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.cz/companies/36">CEITEC – VUT</a>. V týmu nechyběli ani přední odborníci na senzing z Katalánského institutu nanověd a nanotechnologií v Barceloně a svými bohatými znalostmi přispěl i „otec senzingu a elektrochemie“ Joseph Wang z University of California San Diego.„Jedná se o průlomovou studii na toto téma, k níž se podařilo přizvat skutečně velká jména v daných oborech. V neposlední řadě studie dokládá to, že interdisciplinarita v CATRIN dává vzniknout zcela novým a perspektivním výzkumným tématům, jako je rostlinný senzing a jeho využití pro studium interakce rostlin s prostředím a chytrém zemědělství,“ doplnila další z korespondenčních autorů Nuria De Diego. &nbsp;

Současné senzory nestačí. Vědci navrhují novou cestu ke sledování zdraví rostlin

Webináře

Akademie

Potraviny

Vědecký článek

Věda a výzkum

Článek

Je autorizovaným distributorem společnosti Agilent Technologies pro Českou republiku v oblastech chromatografie (GC, HPLC, UHPLC, kapilární elektroforéza) a hmotnostní spektrometrie (GC/MS, LC/MS, CE/MS), disolučních aparátů, molekulární (UV-Vis, UV-Vis-NIR, fluorescence, FTIR analyzátory a mikroskopy) a atomové spektroskopie (ICP-OES, ICP-MS, AAS), a v neposlední řadě také v oblasti molekulární biologie a genomiky (analýza nukleových kyselin a proteinů, microarray skenery a skla, PCR & RT-PCR, qPCR, řešení pro NGS, reagencie pro mutagenezi a klonování, sondy FISH a další).

Altium International

Český institut výzkumu a pokročilých technologií (Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute – CATRIN) je vysokoškolský ústav Univerzity Palackého v Olomouci. Vznikl integrací vědeckých týmů Centra regionu Haná pro biotechnologický a zemědělský výzkum (CRH), Regionálního centra pokročilých technologií a materiálů (RCPTM) a Ústavu molekulární a translační medicíny (ÚMTM) s cílem úzce propojit vědecké kapacity v oblasti biomedicíny, nanotechnologií, nových materiálů, výzkumu rostlin či biotechnologií a ještě úspěšněji čelit  globálním výzvám současného světa, k nimž patří například dopady klimatických změn, boj s novými typy patogenů, diagnostika a léčba civilizačních onemocnění, odvrácení hrozící potravinové krize, získávání a ukládání „zelené“ energie, zajištění dostatku pitné vody, ochrana životního prostředí a řada dalších.

CATRIN

Společnost Phenomenex je celosvětovým technologickým lídrem, který se zabývá vývojem nových řešení v oblasti analytické chemie, jež řeší požadavky analytiků na separace a purifikace v průmyslových, vládních a akademických laboratořích.

Phenomenex

Agilent Technologies

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Frontier Lab

The installation and care of your GC column is of the utmost importance. Whether you are new to the practice of gas chromatography, or would like a refresher, join us as we discuss proper column installation and handling for all Agilent GCs, including the Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC. We will also address the common modes of column degradation and some of the misconceptions that people have concerning column degradation. Lastly, we will discuss ways that you can protect and maintain your column performance and extend its lifetime while minimizing instrument downtime.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Alex Ucci (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In his current position at Agilent, Alex provides application assistance and technical support for sample preparation products as well as GC and LC consumables. Before he joined Agilent in 2014, Alex was a graduate student at the Pennsylvania State University researching the morphology and surface properties of aerosol particles using a wide variety of analytical techniques. He has an MS degree in chemistry.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Ryan Birney (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In Ryan’s current role at Agilent, he provides application assistance and technical support for GC and Spectroscopy. He has been supporting Agilent in technical and sales roles for the past seven years. Ryan came to Agilent from industry, and has an BS degree in Biochemistry.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Tips and Tricks: Best Practices for Column Installation and Care of GC Columns

Tips and Tricks: Best Practices for Column Installation and Care of GC Columns

Whether you are new to the practice of GC, or would like a refresher, join us as we discuss proper column installation and handling for all Agilent GCs.

Tips and Tricks: GC Column Installation and Care

In this application, we will review a fast, easy and reliable analysis method of THCA and CBDA decarboxylation in cannabis oil and flower samples by infrared spectroscopy.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rogelio García Juárez (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rogelio García has a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University National of Mexico and a Master´s degree in Environmental Engineering from the National Polytechnic Institute. He worked in environmental laboratories in the development of methods and applications in water, soil, and air and method design for the pharmaceutical and food industry. He also worked in the implementation of quality management systems in laboratories to obtain accreditation in the 17025 standard, validation process, and analysis of the uncertainty of the method. In 2015, he joined Agilent Technologies as an Application Scientist for Molecular Spectroscopy in UV-Vis, FTIR, and Raman techniques, at Agilent México and Latin America.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Cannabinoid analysis by FTIR

Cannabinoid analysis by FTIR

Fast, easy and reliable analysis method of THCA and CBDA decarboxylation in cannabis oil and flower samples by infrared spectroscopy.

Dear Orbitrap users,
We are pleased to invite you to our Autumn 2023 version of virtual activities to support our Compound Discoverer (CD) software users.
The workshops are designed to bring beginners up-to-speed with best practices as well as allow advanced users to interact with software experts and enquire how to get the most out of their data. Additionally, two dedicated sessions specialized in Metabolite/drug metabolite Identification (Met ID) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) data analysis will follow.
The content is delivered through online workshops, 2-3 hours each, via MS-Teams. The workshops feature live exercises on pre-distributed data, discussion of CD features, parameters, and optimized settings. The sessions are hands-on and highly interactive, so get the best experience by having CD 3.3 SP2 up and running. <a href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-lc-ms/lc-ms-software/multi-omics-data-analysis/compound-discoverer-software.html">Click HERE</a> to download a free 60-day trial version of the latest Compound Discoverer software release.
The sessions allow ample time for the participants to get their CD-related questions answered in real time. The workshops will be taught in English, but participants can use MS Team`s instant subtitles in their preferred language.
<h5>Specialized data processing:</h5>
<ul>
<li>Met ID: Wednesday 4th October: 10.00 - 13.30 CEST (Berlin time)</li>
<li>GCMS: Thursday 18th October: 10.00 - 13.30 CEST (Berlin time)</li>
</ul>

Thermo Scientific: Compound Discoverer software workshops (Specialized data processing: Met ID)

Compound Discoverer software workshops (Specialized data processing: Met ID)

The workshops are designed to bring beginners up-to-speed with best practices as well as allow advanced users to interact with software experts.

Compound Discoverer software (data processing: Met ID)

Seeing everything, and as low as possible, with GC and MS is a function of selectivity and sensitivity: get as much as you can on column, and as best as you can, don&#39;t favor one set of compounds over another.
At some point a one microliter injection of a sample fails this criteria; what next? Concentration!
We will focus on how to concentrate analytes introduced via liquid, headspace, SPME, thermal desorption, and more, all using the latest advancements in a Peltier cooled, valveless, and simple to understand dynamic focusing system for your GC.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kurt Thaxton (International Product Manager, Gerstel)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kurt Thaxton is an International Product Manager for GERSTEL, a German manufacturer of thermal desorption, pyrolysis, and other means of sample preparation and sample introduction for GC- and LC-MS.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
For over twenty years, Kurt has been a user of thermal desorption and pyrolysis as a research scientist at International Paper and later as a Product Specialist for Varian Inc. Later Kurt became involved in both the commercial and technical aspects of these techniques at Markes International and now GERSTEL.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kurt also serves actively in different capacities at SAE, ASTM, AIHA, and ISO. Kurt has an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from The Ohio State University where he focused on using mass spectrometry to solve analytical problems; MS remains a central interest and focus of Kurt&#39;s work today.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: New Advances in Pre-Concentration for GC-MS: Seeing More and Lower

New Advances in Pre-Concentration for GC-MS: Seeing More and Lower

How to concentrate analytes introduced via liquid, headspace, SPME, thermal desorption, and more, all using the latest advancements in a Peltier.

New Advances in Pre-Concentration for GC-MS

Two years have passed since we hosted our first microplastics symposium.
Since then, the microplastic landscape has witnessed significant developments—the impending release of the first ISO standard and ongoing advancements in SOPs. We are pleased that we can bring you together with experts in our field.
This digital conference aims to explore various crucial topics related to the analysis of microplastics, covering areas such as sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and evaluation.
<h3>Highlights – Why you should attend</h3>
<h5>Stay updated on microplastic analysis</h5>
Gain insight into the latest advancements and challenges in microplastic analysis. This seminar covers essential aspects such as sampling, sample preparation, and analysis techniques like spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and chromatography (pyr/TED-GC/MS). 
<h5>Explore diverse applications</h5>
Discover the wide range of applications beyond microplastic analysis that can be addressed with a QCL-based IR imaging system like the LDIR 8700. Get an overview of its potential in areas such as materials, bio, and pharmaceuticals.
<h5>Take part in a live demo</h5>
Witness a live demonstration of an automatic microplastic analysis workflow. Experience firsthand how these techniques and technologies come together to address real-world challenges. Engage with Agilent experts who will answer any questions you may have.
<h5>Showcase your expertise</h5>
Actively participate by presenting your work and contributions in techniques like TED-GC/MS, pyr-GC/MS, and ICP-MS, which are crucial for microplastic analysis. Alternatively, highlight your knowledge of the versatile LDIR 8700 system, showcasing its applications in pharmaceuticals, material analysis, or bio sectors.
<h3>Agenda</h3>
<h5>09:00 Welcome Introduction &amp; Video of Geoff Winkett , Agilent Technologies</h5>
<h5>9:10 The World of Microplastics Up to Date an Overview</h5>
<ul>
<li>Andreas Kerstan (Agilent Technologies)</li>
</ul>
<h5>09:30 Hot news on Agilent LDIR, new developments, and future perspective</h5>
<ul>
<li>Wesam Alwan , Darren Robey (Agilent Technologies)</li>
</ul>
<h5>09:50 Release of Plastic Additives and Microplastic Particles from Different Consumer Products into Water under Accelerated UV Weathering Conditions</h5>
<ul>
<li>Lars Hildebrandt (Scientist, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon)</li>
</ul>
Photodegradation of plastic products is known to accelerate weathering and the resulting release of chemical additives and particles to the environment, however these processes are complex. Here, eight different plastic consumer products were leached in double distilled water under exposure to strong ultraviolet (UV) light for ten days, and the chemical composition of the leachates was compared to their respective dark controls. The leachates and plastic particles were investigated with a wide battery of chemical analytical tools to broadly characterize the underlying processes and possible hazards. These covered (a) metal(loid) analysis, (b) microplastic analysis, (c) analysis of &gt;70 organic target analytes and (d) nontargeted screening of the extracts.
<h5>10:10 Identification of Polymers Using Machine Learning</h5>
<ul>
<li>Xin Tian (Scientific Researcher, KWR NL)</li>
</ul>
Microplastics and other polymers are found in the environment. For this reason, it is important to have reliable methods to identify them. Methods used to detect nano- and microplastics in the environment include Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, laser-directed infrared (LDIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/pyrolysis. These measurement techniques can provide a lot of information, but sometimes require a database with a lot of high-quality data to compare measurement results. Machine learning (especially classification models) can help improve data processing and accuracy.
Recent research has looked at how machine learning can help improve the accuracy of identification with infrared spectroscopy. Different computer models were tested and examined to see if the accuracy increases and if it does not require an unreasonable amount of computing power and time. This research focused on finding an effective method for identifying polymers in the environment based on their mid-infrared spectroscopic signals.
Polymers are identified by infrared spectroscopy by comparing their spectra with spectra in a database/library. This works well for new polymers, which are clean and barely degraded. Since polymers from the environment are actually degraded, comparing their infrared spectra with spectra in the library is difficult. This is because the spectra in the library often have large deviations from the spectra of the measured polymers. Increasing the number of spectra in the library is not possible because the number of spectra of environmentally degraded polymers is almost infinite. The study therefore looked at whether the problem of small data sets can be addressed using machine learning. The research presents a data enrichment technique to generate spectra of degraded polymers from single spectra of a limited number of samples. Four models were tested using these spectra to identify polymers. The study shows that all the models achieve high success rates, thereby facilitating the identification of polymers from environmental samples. Moreover, the research shows that it is not necessarily the most advanced computer model (particularly deep neural network models) that yields the best results.
<h5>10:30 From the River to the Sea: Microplastics in Sediments of the Thames River</h5>
<ul>
<li>Friederike Strock (Postdoc, German Federal Institute of Hydrology)</li>
</ul>
Microplastics have been investigated for over 45 years especially in the marine environment, but only in the past years research has started to focus on freshwater environments. In the frame of the H2020 LABPLAS project, sediments along the course of the Thames river in its freshwater and estuarune part were studied in order to better understand the sources, transport, distribution and impacts of plastic pollution and to detect the amount of plastics transport via the rivers into the sea.
In the frame of the project, a winter and a summer campaign were conducted 2022 and samples taken from 6 sites within the study area. Sediment samples were taken with a Van Veen grabber from the edge of the river, wet sieved into different compartments (10 100 µm, 100 1000 µm, &gt;1000 µm), density separated and the organic matter digested. The plastics from the sediments were characterized with a Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR). The preliminary results reveal that microplastics are present in all samples. The amount of particles varies significantly between the sampling sites showing the importance of industrial emissions and cities.
<h5>10:50 Good Laboratory Practices to Characterize Microplastics Using Quantum-Cascade Laser Reflectance Absorbance Spectrometry</h5>
<ul>
<li>Jose Manuel Andrade Garda (Professor Analytical Chemistry, University of A Corunna)</li>
</ul>
The nowadays broad societal interest in microplastic pollution demands urgent responses and actions. For these be possible politicians must set rules which, in turn, are not possible at all without sound scientific data. Unfortunately, there is a general feeling that the experimental results obtained so far are not still fully comparable and, further, that the monitoring field where hundreds or samples are taken is not being fully considered. Scientific studies and future regulations depend critically on a reliable identification of the polymers (if any) that constitute the suspicious particles under study. Out of the various analytical techniques to characterize them a novel one based on reflectance-absorbance spectrometry, commercialized as LDIR, outstands. It uses a tuneablemid-IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) to imaging a reflective microscopy slide or a metal-coated filter in a remarkable small timeframe. This communication is meant to present best practice guides to overcome some obstacles/difficulties in routine measurements, and open a path for field monitoring; among them: the adequacy of the spectral range, the variation of the peak&#39;s intensities with the size of the particles; the speed of the analysis as a function of the instrumental setup; the criterion to identify unknown spectra (a tiered approach is finally suggested); and how to differentiate fibers and fragments semiautomatically. Also, an empirical dependence of the depth of penetration of the QCL laser in common plastic particles is approached first time.
<h5>11:10 Chemical Characterization of Microplastics using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS)</h5>
<ul>
<li>Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo (Pull Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of A Corunna)</li>
</ul>
The implementation of monitoring programs for Microplastics requires reliable and standardisedmethods. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques are the most commonly used for Microplastics analysis. However, thermal analytical techniques are currently gaining popularity. This presentation focuses on the potential of mass-based thermal analytical techniques, in particular, Pyrolysis coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), for the accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics in environmental matrices. It outlines some advantages and good laboratory practices of this approach, the importance of method normalisation, and how it can provide detailed information on polymers and plastic additives.
<h5>11:20 Analysis of Fibrous Microplastics Using Laser Direct Infrared Imaging</h5>
<ul>
<li>Monique Greiner (Research Associate, Hohenstein Laboratories)</li>
</ul>
In the research field of microplastics the identification of their source is important in order to develop strategies to minimize the pollution. A major percentage of microplastics originates from textiles. One pathway into the environment are washing procedures because the textiles release fibers during the process. Therefore our aim was to find a fast and easy way to identify fibers. In our presentation we want to give insights in our approach to the analysis of fibrous microplastics with the LDIR 8700. We will talk about our strategies, the results we achieved and difficulties we faced.
<h5>11:40 Looking beyond the Polymer: Using Thermal Desorption GC MS to expand our understanding of Microplastics</h5>
<ul>
<li>Jan Peter Mayser (Market Specialist, Markes International)</li>
</ul>
Detecting and analysingmicroplastics in the environment is challenging. The method must be able to detect and distinguish between a large variety of polymers. Additives, such as hardeners, flame retardants and preservatives, used during the manufacturing process and other compounds, that can adhere to the surfaces of microplastics from their environment, can affect their toxicity assessment. These additives could be used to link the microplastics found in the environment to their original use or potentially even back to the manufacturer.
In this study, various salts were sampled and filtered and analyzed for their microplastic content. TD–GC–MS was used to identify and measure which concentration of the plastic PS, PET, PVC and Nylon 6 had been incorporated into the crystalline structure of the salt during evaporation. By using direct desorption and backflushing technology, a large sample size could be easily isolated from the lab environment during analysis while ensuring a large range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including the marker compounds for four polymers could be trapped and analyzed.
The VOC-profile of the microplastics not only gave information about the polymer and its concentration within the sample, but further information about the toxicity could be extracted. This enabled the determination and tentative identification of additional compounds in the samples, such as dimethyl ether, acrolein and cyclopentane. These are used in the process of manufacturing plastics, so could assist with identifying the source of the plastics. For the four analysed polymers distinct marker compounds could be identified and calibration curves determined for each polymer. In all of the real-world salt samples microplastics were identified, highlighting the ubiquitous nature of the microplastic contamination.
This further information about the origin of the polymer, as well as the origin of the microplastic particles can be gathered by investigating the full VOC-profile obtained by TD-GC-MS. This allows both additional polymer information and particle source characterization.
<h5>12:00 Tiny Problems</h5>
<ul>
<li>Roxana Sühring (Assistant Professor in Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University)</li>
</ul>
Microplastics have been on the front page of newspapers, a dominant topic for environmental research (and funding), and a recent focus for regulatory action across the globe. Their potential impacts have been classed as a planetary boundary threat and new studies are published daily, reporting microplastics virtually anywhere on the planet. But despite numerous publications, there are still a lot of open questions on how to effectively and reproducibly characterize microplastics. How can microplastic characterization be automized? What is the impact of additives or weathering on the characterization accuracy?
In this presentation I will provide an overview and the first results of a research collaboration between Agilent technologies and the Emerging contaminants lab at Toronto Metropolitan University that works on addressing some of these questions. Our research aims to create a versatile microplastic library using weathered and new plastics commonly found in the environment. This library will additionally be used as a training set for developing automated particle characterization for the LDIR.
<h5>12:20 Identification of Microplastic Particles in Soil Using LDIR</h5>
<ul>
<li>Martine Graf, PhD (Student &amp; Senior Technician, Bangor University)</li>
</ul>
The use of agricultural plastic has become increasingly concerning in an environmental setting in recent years; in Europe alone, an estimated 2.5 million tones of plastic mulch films are used each year. The use of mulch films for crop production has been promoted by governments worldwide due to its many benefits, however the removal of these films from the soil can be difficult due to their poor mechanical strength and fragmentation, and barriers such as poor incentives for farmers and underdeveloped infrastructure for collection and disposal. The latter often leading to the films being discarded or incinerated along field margins, or ploughed back into the fields, leading to an accumulation of plastic legacy in soil. To evaluate the microplastic pollution levels in agricultural soils, we are i ) conducting a global soil survey in all partner countries; ii) assessing the degradation and fragmentation of conventional and biodegradable plastic mulch films in soil, and measuring the resulting microplastic production rate; and iii) measure the degradation and movement of microplastic in soil after repeated application. Microplastics are extracted from soil using targeted methods for different polymer types, and analysed using fluorescent microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and LDIR spectroscopy.
<h5>12:40 Wrap up and open discussion</h5>

Agilent Technologies: Agilent Microplastics Virtual Symposium 2023

Agilent Microplastics Virtual Symposium 2023

Explore various crucial topics related to the analysis of microplastics, covering areas such as sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and evaluation.

SPME is a powerful technique to measure volatiles and semi-volatiles in aqueous matrices, particularly beverages, surface water, and drinking water.
SPME greatly simplified GC-MS work in these matrices, but over time issues with competitive effects at the fiber surface and limited mass-on-column became a limiting factor, particularly as mass spectrometers became ever more sensitive.
The good news is that microextraction continues to advance with improved variations on classic SPME. We&#39;ll discuss these alternate approaches - SPME Arrow, Thin Film SPME (TF-SPME) and Twister - and show how they can help you see ever lower concentrations and yet limit contributions from the aqueous matrix.
<blockquote>
Presnter: Kurt Thaxton (International Product Manager, Gerstel)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kurt Thaxton is an International Product Manager for GERSTEL, a German manufacturer of thermal desorption, pyrolysis, and other means of sample preparation and sample introduction for GC- and LC-MS.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
For over twenty years, Kurt has been a user of thermal desorption and pyrolysis as a research scientist at International Paper and later as a Product Specialist for Varian Inc. Later Kurt became involved in both the commercial and technical aspects of these techniques at Markes International and now GERSTEL.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Kurt also serves actively in different capacities at SAE, ASTM, AIHA, and ISO. Kurt has an M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from The Ohio State University where he focused on using mass spectrometry to solve analytical problems; MS remains a central interest and focus of Kurt&#39;s work today.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Beyond SPME: Understanding SPME Arrow, Thin-Film SPME, and Twister

Beyond SPME: Understanding SPME Arrow, Thin-Film SPME, and Twister

Alternate approaches - SPME Arrow, Thin Film SPME (TF-SPME) and Twister.

Understanding SPME Arrow, Thin-Film SPME, and Twister

Do you face difficulty in selecting the most appropriate GC column for your analysis? Are you always wondering which column will work best for your application or if the existing column will work for your application or not?
In this webinar, we will discuss:
<ul>
<li>Things to consider while choosing GC Columns
</li>
<li>GC Column types
</li>
<li>Stationary Phase Polymers
</li>
<li>Low Bleed Phases
</li>
<li>Ultra Inert columns
</li>
<li>Suitable columns for Critical Applications
</li>
</ul>
Join us in this live webinar to discuss on various aspects of GC column selection.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Sunil B Lakhmapure (Technical Support Specialist, Agilent Technologies)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Sunil holds 19 year plus experience in the analytical field with major exposure to LC/GC with Single Quad, Triple Quad and high resolution (QToF) mass spectroscopy. Started career in Pharma R&amp;D as a scientist with hands on experience on high end instruments like LC/MS, XRD &amp; NMR. Developed &amp; published application notes using Chromatographic techniques on real world samples/issues at various levels.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Practical Advice on GC Column Selection

Practical Advice on GC Column Selection

Do you have a new GC column to install? Do you often wonder about the nuances of GC column installation and how to get your new column up and running? Do you often wonder for how long you should condition the column and at what temperature?
In this webinar, we will discuss:
<ul>
<li>Column construction
</li>
<li>Column Unboxing
</li>
<li>Column Installation
</li>
<li>Leak and Installation Check
</li>
<li>Preventive measures for better column life 
</li>
<li>Corrective measures in case you run into a problem
</li>
</ul>
Join us in this webinar to understand a hassle-free GC column installation and how to take care of your GC column.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Rajni Mujoo (Technical Support Specialist, Chemistries &amp; Supplies Division, Agilent Technologies)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Rajni is working with us as Technical Support Specialist in Chemistries and Supplies Division at Agilent Technologies since 2011. She has a Ph.D degree in Food Science from CFTRI, Mysore and Post Doctorate from Department Of Food Science, Michigan State University. She also has four International Presentations &amp; 13 publications in reputed National &amp; International journals to her credit. Rajni has a total work experience of 16 yrs spread across research and Sales building expertise in different Instrument techniques.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Best Practices for GC Column Installation and Care

Best Practices for GC Column Installation and Care

Understand a hassle-free GC column installation and how to take care of your GC column.

Do you experience at some point deviations in your gas chromatography? Wondering why your chromatogram doesn’t look the same, the peak shape begins to appear a bit different? Do you invest your time in trying to figure the root cause of the issue in order to solve it?
Please join this webinar to discuss some of the most common chromatographic issues that you experience with Gas Chromatography and take a logical approach to finding the root cause and correcting the problem. We are going to highlight some common problems with examples and share some troubleshooting tips. 
In this free webinar, we will discuss:
<ul>
<li>Some of the most common chromatographic issues that you experience with Gas Chromatography
</li>
<li>Logical approach to finding the root cause and 
</li>
<li>Some simple tools to help correcting the problem
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Anshu Kumari Singh (Technical Support Manager, Agilent Technologies)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Anshu Kumari Singh is the Technical Support Manager for India in the Chemistries and Supplies Division. She has more than 20 years of experience in this industry. She is leading a team of highly qualified Individuals responsible for providing technical support to customers. She provides support to customers on queries related to applications, products and troubleshooting for GC and LC columns and Supplies. She also conducts workshops, trainings and seminars for the customers helping them in understanding the chemistry behind GC &amp; HPLC columns and Sample Preparation Products. Dr. Anshu holds a Doctorate degree from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and is based out of Delhi.
</blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: The Chromatography Detective: GC Troubleshooting Tips

The Chromatography Detective: GC Troubleshooting Tips

Most common chromatographic issues that you experience with Gas Chromatography and take a logical approach to finding the root cause and correcting the problem.

Thermal desorption and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is a well-established and proven analytical method for materials characterization.
In combination with GC-MS, thermal desorption is used to identify additives and contaminants, and pyrolysis is a key tool for identifying involatile materials such as polymers, lacquers, paints, adhesives, plastics, and synthetic fibers.
This webinar will explain the basics of Py-GC-MS and how it can be applied to applications such as quality control, troubleshooting, and deformulation using applications of the Frontier Lab micro-furnace Multi-Shot Pyrolyzer combined with JEOL single quadrupole and high-resolution time-of-flight GC-MS systems
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
<ul>
<li>How pyrolysis GC-MS is used to identify polymers, additives, and contaminants.
</li>
<li>how hard and soft ionization methods provide complementary information.
</li>
<li>about software tools and interpretation libraries for analysis
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Rojin Belganeh
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Rojin Belganeh is the Technical Director at Frontier Laboratories Americas. As a former user of Frontier products with more than ten years of experience in analytical instrumentation, Rojin is passionate about creating awareness about Frontier technology and providing technical support to users. Rojin graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She started her profession as an analytical chemist working with various analytical instruments, such as Pyrolysis GCMS, TGA, FTIR, and X-Rays for material characterization, polymer identification, and contamination analysis. She also holds an MBA degree concentrating in strategic marketing.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Robert “Chip” Cody
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Chip Cody has worked at JEOL USA, Inc. in Peabody, MA for the past 34 years and is currently Principal Scientist. Dr. Cody is responsible for developing the trapped-ion tandem-in-time MS/MS and MSn techniques, laser-desorption in a trapped ion mass spectrometer, Electron Impact Excitation of Ions from Organics (EIEIO), and is a coinventor of the DART ion source. He has consulted with NASA on the Mars 2020 Rover project, served as Vice-President for Arrangements for the American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), was awarded the 2011 Anachem Award and a 2012 Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award, and is currently on the Editorial Board for the ASMS journal and a member of the ASMS History Committee.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Bryan Katzenmeyer
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Bryan Katzenmeyer has over 15 years of experience specializing in mass spectrometry and separation techniques for characterizing materials, polymers, monomers, and small molecules. He obtained his Ph.D. in polymer/analytical chemistry at The University of Akron under Distinguished Professor Chrys Wesdemiotis and his M.S. and B.S. in chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Penn State, respectively. Bryan joined JEOL USA, Inc. in 2023, where he currently manages business development for mass spectrometry with an emphasis on the polymer and chemical industrial markets.
</blockquote>

JEOL - Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis-GC-MS for Deformulation and Material Characterization

Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis-GC-MS for Deformulation and Material Characterization

Basics of Py-GC-MS and how it can be applied to applications such as quality control, troubleshooting, and deformulation.

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