Understanding Capillary LC – Part 5: Detectors, Sensitivity, and MS/UV
Detection is one of the most critical—and often misunderstood—elements of capillary liquid chromatography. In this fifth installment of the Understanding Capillary LC lecture series, Dr. Sam Foster is joined by Dr. Purnendu K. (Sandy) Dasgupta to examine detector selection and performance at the capillary scale.
The session will survey commonly used detection approaches, including mass spectrometry, UV–Vis absorbance, fluorescence, refractometry, amperometry, conductance, and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C⁴D), with emphasis on why MS and UV remain the most widely adopted. Particular focus will be placed on the sensitivity benefits of low-flow electrospray ionization for MS, as well as the inherent challenges of UV detection at short optical path lengths—and practical strategies to address them.
The discussion will place attainable and typical limits of detection in context, connect optical, electrochemical, and mass-spectrometric principles to real-world capillary LC workflows, and conclude with practical considerations for interfacing capillary LC systems, including the Axcend platform, with MS and UV detectors.
Key Takeaways:
- How common detector types perform at the capillary scale
- Why low-flow LC enhances MS sensitivity and limits of detection
- Practical constraints of UV detection in capillary formats—and mitigation strategies
- Typical vs. attainable detection limits across optical, electrochemical, and MS methods
- Considerations for integrating capillary LC with MS and UV detectors in practice
BUSINESS EMAIL REQUIRED FOR REGISTRATION.
Registrants using free email providers such as gmail will not be admitted to the webinar.
Presenter: Dr. Purnendu K. (Sandy) Dasgupta (Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas Arlington)
Purnendu K. (Sandy) Dasgupta got his honors in Chemistry BSc degree, and MSc in Inorganic Chemistry from India and his PhD in Analytical Chemistry with a minor in Electrical Engineering from LSU in 1977. While getting his PhD, he also earned a diploma as a TV mechanic. He worked for a year as an instructor at LSU before joining the University of California at Davis to study inhalation toxicology of air pollutants. In Bengali, his mother tongue, he is a published poet and a novelist. But after his father and grandfather, he is a third generation University Professor. After 25 years at Texas Tech, he joined the University of Texas at Arlington where he is presently the Hamish Small Chair in Ion Analysis. He has authored 450+ papers/book chapters and was primary person to update the last edition of Christian’s undergraduate text on Analytical Chemistry. More than 250 of his papers are in Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Science and Technology. He is a significant inventor, the majority of his 46 patents have been licensed. His work has been recognized by the ACS National Award in Analytical Chemistry, ACS National Award in Chromatography, Dal Nogare Award in Separation Sciences, the Giorgio Nota medal in Open tubular liquid chromatography, Giddings Award in Chemical Education, and EAS Fields of Analytical Chemistry Award. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His work on environmental perchlorate led to public awareness and eventual regulation. He received the 2018 Texas Distinguished Scientist award from the Texas Academy of Science, first Asian American to be so honored. In the same year he also received the Talanta Medal in Analytical Chemistry; the medal has been given since 1960, he is the fourth American to receive it. He received the ACS Award in chemical Instrumentation. The Undergraduate Chemistry and Biochemistry students Association at UT Dallas honored him as their awardee and distinguished lecturer in 2019.
Presenter: Samuel Foster, Ph.D. (Application Scientist, Axcend)
Samuel Foster completed his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Rowan University in 2025. His research has focused on the development and application of capillary scale liquid chromatography instrumentation. He currently works at Axcend as an application scientist focusing on the development of chromatographic workflows for a variety of analyte classes including oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and drugs of abuse.
