Meeting EU Drinking Water Standards: The Critical Role of Sample Prep in Trace Contaminant Analysis

<p><strong>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 </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68778-6#Abs1"><i><strong>Nature Communications</strong></i></a><strong>.</strong></p><p>“<i>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</i>,” said the article’s first author, <strong>David Panáček</strong> from CATRIN, who worked on the study during his internship at Imperial College London.</p><p><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"></p><p>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. “<i>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</i>,” said one of the corresponding authors, <strong>Michal Otyepka</strong>.</p><p>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"><strong> CEITEC – VUT</strong></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.</p><p>“<i>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,</i>” added another corresponding author, <strong>Nuria De Diego</strong>.</p>

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

<p><strong>In this episode of the Concentrating on Chromatography podcast, host David Oliva interviews Ainslie Chen about her cutting-edge research on hemoglobin variant testing using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS). Ainslie discusses her novel method for separating and identifying hemoglobin subunits with mass shifts less than 1 Da, overcoming critical limitations in conventional clinical assays.</strong></p><p>Hear firsthand how her team developed an LC-HR-MS workflow using a C4 reversed-phase column, tackled technical challenges (including why C18 columns fell short), and achieved unprecedented sensitivity for variant detection in both adult and neonatal samples. The conversation touches on the potential of mass spectrometry to revolutionize clinical diagnostics, the importance of reproducibility, barriers to adoption in routine labs, and how teamwork drives scientific innovation.</p><p>Perfect for analytical chemists, clinical laboratorians, and anyone interested in the future of protein variant analysis, this episode also features Ainslie’s advice for early-career scientists and insights from her first ACS poster presentation.</p><h4><strong>Key Highlights:</strong></h4><ul><li>Motivation behind improving hemoglobinopathy testing &nbsp;</li><li>Technical advantages of LC-HR-MS over gene sequencing and CE &nbsp;</li><li>The crucial role of the C4 column in resolving challenging samples &nbsp;</li><li>Critical parameters for reproducible LC-HR-MS workflows &nbsp;</li><li>Barriers and outlook for clinical adoption of advanced mass spectrometry &nbsp;</li><li>The value of teamwork and mentorship in scientific research &nbsp;</li><li>Direct insights from recent ACS conference experiences</li></ul><h3><strong>Video transcription</strong></h3><p>In this interview, <strong>Ainslie Chen</strong> discusses her research on improving the detection and identification of hemoglobin variants using <strong>liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)</strong>. The work addresses limitations of conventional hemoglobinopathy testing, which often struggles to resolve very small mass differences between closely related hemoglobin subunits. Because even a single amino-acid substitution can significantly alter hemoglobin structure and function, high analytical resolution is essential for accurate diagnosis of conditions such as anemia and sickle cell disease.</p><p>Chen explains why her team selected LC-HRMS over established clinical techniques like <strong>capillary electrophoresis</strong> and <strong>gene sequencing</strong>. While sequencing offers excellent accuracy, it is time-consuming, costly, and requires extensive sample preparation, making it impractical for routine clinical workflows. Capillary electrophoresis enables subunit separation but lacks the resolving power needed to distinguish variants differing by less than one Dalton. In contrast, high-resolution mass spectrometry provides both structural specificity and sensitivity, enabling confident identification of subtle hemoglobin variants with minimal sample preparation.</p><p>A key methodological insight from the project was the use of a <strong>C4 reversed-phase LC column</strong> instead of the more common C18 column. Chen describes how the shorter carbon chain and larger pore size of C4 columns improved protein elution and reduced denaturation, leading to more reproducible separations. Critical parameters for reproducibility included consistent mobile-phase composition (0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile), controlled temperature (60 °C for LC, ~320 °C capillary temperature), and stable chromatographic conditions.</p><p>Beyond hemoglobin analysis, Chen highlights the broader potential of high-resolution mass spectrometry in <strong>proteoform analysis</strong> and clinical diagnostics, including emerging applications in cancer detection. She acknowledges current barriers to clinical adoption—such as energy demands and instrument infrastructure—but points to advances like <strong>miniaturized mass spectrometers</strong> as promising steps toward wider use. The interview concludes with advice for young scientists: don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors, embrace collaboration, and view analytical chemistry as a versatile tool that bridges medicine, biology, environmental science, and beyond.</p><blockquote><p><strong>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><h4><strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</strong></h4><p>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!</p><p>You can find <strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast </strong>in podcast apps:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL"><strong>Spotify</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185"><strong>Apple podcast</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography"><strong>podscan</strong></a></li></ul><p>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos"><strong>YouTube channel</strong></a></p></blockquote>

Unlocking Hemoglobin Variant Detection: LC-HR-MS Breakthrough with Ainslie Chen

Article

Video

Environment

Scientific article

Interview

Science and research

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

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

Organomation

Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System

The ACQUITY APC System Increase sample throughput and laboratory operations by obtaining accurate and repeatable sample separation up to 20 time faster than before.

<div><div><h4><strong>The highest performance for polymers and oligomers</strong></h4></div></div><div><div><p><strong>Today’s polymer scientists operate within an increasingly dynamic market space, one with a growing demand for high-performing materials, bio-material innovations, and intense competition. But the long run times of traditional chromatography polymer characterization has made keeping up with this demand a challenge for many labs.</strong></p><p>Not anymore. With the <strong>next era in polymer separation</strong>, the <strong>ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System</strong>, you can achieve the <strong>highest resolution size-based separations</strong> for <strong>chromatographic polymer and oligomer characterization</strong>, all <strong>faster than ever</strong>. With the <strong>ACQUITY APC System</strong>, you can <strong>improve data consistency and quality</strong> with <strong>fast, daily calibration</strong>, and <strong>automate your method development</strong> with <strong>advanced system technologies</strong> – so you can <strong>innovate faster</strong> while <strong>improving lab operations.</strong></p><div><div><div><div><h3><strong>Features and Benefits</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Accelerate your insights</strong> - Reduce laboratory turnaround times for polymer samples by getting answers to your development labs, your manufacturing operations teams, and your customers 5 to 20 times faster than traditional SEC/GPC with the ultra-low system dispersion of the ACQUITY APC System paired with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1950"><strong>ACQUITY APC Columns</strong></a>.</li><li><strong>Get the accurate data you need for informed decisions</strong> - Gain more insight into your polymer samples through compatibility with a wide range of specific detection techniques (refractive index, UV/Vis, PDA, ELS) and third-party advanced detectors like multi-angle light scattering and viscometry. Get accurate molecular weight (MW) data every day with the precise flow delivery of the isocratic solvent manager.</li><li><strong>Optimize method development, even in harsh conditions</strong> - Optimize method development via rapid and automated solvent switching and aggressive solvent compatibility, which supports the harsh separation conditions associated with polymer analyses.</li><li><strong>Improve lab efficiency with one system</strong> - Increase analytical scope and laboratory efficiency by leveraging one system to perform multiple applications, including basic liquid chromatography (LC), gradient, isocratic, reverse-phase, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC).</li><li><strong>Simplify your column management</strong> - Simplify and optimize column bank calibration through standards that are matched to column bank MW ranges. Versatile column management allows you to automatically select up to two banks of <strong>ACQUITY APC</strong> columns and up to two banks of traditional GPC columns - all housed in a stable, temperature-controlled environment.</li></ul></div></div><div><div><h4><strong>Recommended Use</strong></h4><p>Highest-resolution, size-based separations for chromatographic polymer and oligomer characterization.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_APC_System_nakonfigurovany_pro_automaticke_prepinani_jak_APC_tak_GPC_kolon_e198c774f4/Waters-ACQUITY-APC-System-nakonfigurovany-pro-automaticke-prepinani-jak-APC-tak-GPC-kolon.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_APC_System_nakonfigurovany_pro_automaticke_prepinani_jak_APC_tak_GPC_kolon_e198c774f4/thumbnail_Waters-ACQUITY-APC-System-nakonfigurovany-pro-automaticke-prepinani-jak-APC-tak-GPC-kolon.jpg 213w," sizes="100vw" width="969" height="710"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Accelerate innovation with enhanced insight</strong></h3><p>Harnessing the benefits of advanced polymer chromatography with the ACQUITY APC System means obtaining accurate and repeatable polymer and oligomer molecular weight information anywhere between<strong> 5 to 20 times faster than was possible</strong> with traditional<strong> GPC/SEC technology</strong> - so you can innovate faster while improving laboratory operations.</p><p><strong>With the ACQUITY APC System, you can:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Reduce laboratory turnaround times for polymer samples&nbsp;</strong>by getting answers to your development labs, your manufacturing operations teams, and your customers - faster.</li><li><strong>Drive innovation</strong>&nbsp;with faster results and more information so that your entire operation can respond more rapidly by decreasing development cycle times and accelerating time to market.</li><li><strong>Streamline process monitoring</strong>&nbsp;and achieve better batch control with the agility to make timely decisions “on-the-fly” about process and synthesis optimization<strong>.</strong></li><li><strong>Significantly reduce the analysis cost per sample</strong>&nbsp;by reducing solvent consumption and waste disposal volumes.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_ca5154865a.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System: Accelerate your innovation with enhanced insight into polymer chemical structure with the ACQUITY APC System." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_ca5154865a.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="600"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Optimize method development with solvent switching and compatibility</strong></h3><p>Using the ACQUITY APC System with <strong>Polymer Quaternary Solvent Manager</strong> (p-QSM) <strong>technology </strong>provides chemists and polymer scientists with the ultimate flexibility to analyze the most complex polymer blends and additives using standard polymer chromatography, gradient polymer elution chromatography (GPEC), and reverse-phase LC with a single system.</p><p>Additional system features allow automated solvent selection of up to six different solvents. Automated column bank switching capabilities can also be paired with the rigid and solvent-resilient particles of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1950"><strong>ACQUITY APC Columns</strong></a> to achieve the world’s first truly automated solution for method development of size-based polymer separations. This supports separation of polymers in hours, instead of days.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_2_b95f96f0a2.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System: Repeatable analysis of poly (methyl methacrylate co ethylacrylate) using the same two running ACQUITY APC 4.6 x 150 mm Columns (450 Å and 125 Å) in series after automated switching of the solvents from THF to toluene to DMF and back to THF." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_2_b95f96f0a2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="609"></p></div></div><div><div><h3><strong>Use advanced detection for even more insights</strong></h3><p>Get the valuable decision-making information you need from a single analysis by equipping the ACQUITY APC System with advanced detectors. Combining the ACQUITY APC System with advanced detection solutions significantly increases information attainable from <strong>size-exclusion chromatography</strong> (SEC) analysis through addition of <strong>refractive index</strong> (RI), <strong>ultraviolet </strong>(UV),<strong> photodiode array </strong>(PDA), <strong>light scattering</strong> (LS), and <strong>differential viscometry</strong> (IV). Advanced detection options from <strong>Wyatt Technology</strong> are seamlessly integrated with ACQUITY APC System, enabling you to fully characterize samples to better inform the structure-property relationship of novel complex polymers.</p></div></div><div><div><h3><strong>Keep pace with your research with dedicated consumables</strong></h3><p>The ACQUITY APC System is even more powerful with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/nextgen/global/products/columns/acquity-apc-columns.html"><strong>ACQUITY APC Columns</strong></a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/nextgen/global/products/standards-and-reagents/acquity-advanced-polymer-chromatography-calibration-standards-ki.html"><strong>ACQUITY APC Calibration Standards Kits</strong></a>. The Ethylene Bridged Hybrid (BEH) Technology in ACQUITY APC Columns creates particles that ensure extreme column performance and long column lifetime under harsh operating conditions – ideal for general purpose, reversed-phase chromatography, and for method development due to extreme pH stability and applicability to the broadest range of compound classes.</p><p>With run times of less than 10 minutes, a bank of ACQUITY APC Columns can be <strong>calibrated in less than 30 minutes</strong> using ACQUITY APC Calibration Standards Kits.&nbsp;These standard kits have been matched to the MW range of ACQUITY APC Columns, generating a 10-point calibration for any bank combination in a simple dilute-and-shoot format. With daily column bank calibration, you can greatly improve data consistency to increase confidence in batch-to-batch measurements. Select the best column and calibration standards for a given application with our convenient <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.waters.com/waters/promotionDetail.htm?id=134823417">selector tool</a>.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_4_056bb6d284.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System: Ethylene Bridged Hybrid (BEH) Technology helps you keep up with the pace of your research with state-of-the-art reversed-phase and HILIC HPLC columns." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_4_056bb6d284.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="620"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_5_7a814e249b.jpg" alt="Waters ACQUITY Advanced Polymer Chromatography (APC) System: Improve data and consistency with ACQUITY APC Calibration Standards." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_ACQUITY_Advanced_Polymer_Chromatography_APC_System_5_7a814e249b.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="591"></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Products from category GPC/SEC focused on GPC/SEC - page 1

Related content

Unlocking Hemoglobin Variant Detection: LC-HR-MS Breakthrough with Ainslie Chen

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

Meeting EU Drinking Water Standards: The Critical Role of Sample Prep in Trace Contaminant Analysis