<div>Mulching films used in agriculture gradually break down and can become a significant source of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library?search=microplastics">microplastics</a> in soils. A new study shows that these particles affect not only soil structure but also microbial life and nitrogen cycling.“We wanted to understand how microplastics from both conventional and biodegradable mulching films influence soil properties, microbial diversity and functions in real conditions,” explains Klára Šmídová, the study’s co-author . “That’s why we added realistic amounts of microplastics to soils in experimental plots in Finland, Germany, and Spain, monitored them over two growing seasons, and compared them with the control plots.”The results revealed that microplastics alter soil characteristics and microbial communities, although not always in the same way. “ However, a consistent finding was the decline in microbial activity associated with key processes, including nitrogen cycling, with negative effects increasing at higher microplastic concentrations and becoming more pronounced in the second year,” Šmídová adds. Because the microplastic levels used in the study reflect amounts already found in European soils, the findings highlight real risks to soil health. “We also found that the effects were stronger in southern than in northern Europe, likely due to differences in climate and soil conditions. This means that protecting soils from plastic pollution will require region-specific risk assessments,” she says.Over 60% of European soils are estimated to be unhealthy, with ongoing degradation driven by unsustainable land use, contamination, climate change, and extreme weather events. In response, the EU Parliament adopted the Soil Monitoring Law in October 2025, aiming to achieve healthy soils across Europe by 2050. “The law highlights the role of soil health in food security, water quality, and climate objectives, and establishes consistent soil monitoring across Member States. It includes measures to support farmers and foresters, while also creating a public list of potentially contaminated sites and an indicative watch list of emerging soil contaminants,” explains Klára Šmídová.The project brought together 19 research groups across Europe. “After each season, hundreds of samples were colle cted and sent to partners for analysis. This paper focuses on soil properties, microbial diversity, and greenhouse gas emissions. Two more manuscripts—on plastic additives and microplastic fate, and on soil invertebrates—are in preparation. Together, they will give us a complete picture of how agricultural microplastics affect soil ecosystems,” concludes Klára Šmídová.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RECETOX_Vysledky_nove_studie_ukazaly_ze_mikroplasty_meni_vlastnosti_pudy_a_mikrobialni_spolecenstva_i_v_realnych_podminkach_6ee3413a7b.jpg" alt="RECETOX: New Study Reveals How Agricultural Plastics Impact Soil Health In Real Conditions" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RECETOX_Vysledky_nove_studie_ukazaly_ze_mikroplasty_meni_vlastnosti_pudy_a_mikrobialni_spolecenstva_i_v_realnych_podminkach_6ee3413a7b.jpg 171w," sizes="100vw" width="738" height="674"><blockquote><h4>The Original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749125015866?via%3Dihub#sec2">Conventional and biodegradable agricultural microplastics: effects on soil properties and microbial functions across a European pedoclimatic gradient</a></h4>Šmídová K., Soinne H., Kim S. W., Tirronniemi J., Meffe R., Redondo-Hasselerharm P. E., Braun M., Rillig M. C., Fritze H., Adamczyk B., Nikama J., Kaseva J., Saartama V., Amelung W., Hurley R., Hofman J., Nizzetto L., Selonen S., Velmala S.Environ. Pollut. 386 (2025) 127212<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127212">10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127212</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4><div>Agricultural plastics like mulching films may become a major source of microplastic (MP) soil contamination during their degradation and fragmentation. This study investigates the effects of agricultural MPs from conventional (linear low-density polyethylene, PE) and biodegradable (starch-blended polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate, PBAT-BD) mulching films on soil physicochemical properties, aggregation, microbial diversity and functions, litter decomposition, and greenhouse gases emissions (GHG). For this purpose, MPs were mixed into soils at realistic MP concentrations of 0.005&nbsp;% and 0.05&nbsp;% (w/w) in 2022 on experimental plots in three EU countries representing different pedoclimatic conditions (Finland, Germany and Spain), followed by monitoring of the above-mentioned variables in the subsequent growing seasons 2022 and 2023. We found several significant MP-induced effects for soil properties, aggregation, microbial diversity, litter decomposition, and GHG, but the effect endpoints were less pronounced or varied considerably. Contrarily, microbial activity, contributing to soil functions such as nitrogen cycling, was consistently reduced by both conventional and biodegradable MPs. The reductions were more pronounced after the second season and for the higher MP treatment. As the higher MP concentration (i.e., 0.05&nbsp;% w/w) is environmentally relevant in Europe, our findings emphasize the potential effects of environmentally relevant MP concentrations on soil health. Furthermore, the effects increased from north to south, probably modulated by varying pedoclimatic conditions, inducing reflection of a need for regionally tailored risk</div></div>

New Study Reveals How Agricultural Plastics Impact Soil Health In Real Conditions

<h3>Charged for Action: The Hidden Secrets of AEX Oligonucleotide Analysis</h3>Oligonucleotides—short, well-defined fragments of DNA or RNA—have become indispensable tools in modern life sciences. They underpin cutting-edge applications in molecular diagnostics, gene therapy, and pharmaceutical development. Before oligonucleotides can be confidently used in research or clinical settings, however, their quality must be rigorously assessed. Purity, sequence integrity, length distribution, and chemical modifications all play a decisive role in their performance.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_2_45eee54fa0.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2: AEX" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_2_45eee54fa0.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1534" height="711">Among the analytical techniques available today, anion exchange chromatography (AEX) stands out as a robust and highly informative method for characterizing oligonucleotides. By exploiting their intrinsic negative charge, AEX provides detailed insight into product composition and impurity profiles that are difficult to obtain by other approaches.<blockquote><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/article/6808">Part 1 of the Oligos series: A Practical Guide to Oligonucleotide Production – From Concept to Final Product</a></blockquote><h4>How Scientists Read Oligonucleotides Using Charge</h4>At the core of AEX lies a simple but powerful principle: oligonucleotides carry a negatively charged phosphate backbone. This charge increases in a predictable way with strand length and, to a lesser extent, sequence composition. Anion exchange chromatography uses this property to separate oligonucleotides based on differences in charge strength and interaction with a positively charged stationary phase.As a result, AEX has become one of the most widely used analytical tools for evaluating oligonucleotide quality. It allows scientists to distinguish full-length products from truncated species, degradation products, or closely related variants—often with single-nucleotide resolution.<h4>Why Ion Exchange Works: Binding, Retention, and Release</h4>Ion exchange chromatography (IEX) relies on electrostatic interactions between analytes and a charged stationary phase. In the case of oligonucleotides, anion exchange is used, where negatively charged molecules interact with positively charged functional groups on the resin—most commonly quaternary amines.The system consists of two main components:<ul><li>Stationary phase: A positively charged resin that binds anionic analytes.</li><li>Mobile phase: An aqueous buffer system, typically combined with a salt gradient, that controls both pH and elution strength.</li></ul>Retention in AEX is governed primarily by charge. Molecules with weaker overall charge interact less strongly with the stationary phase and elute earlier, while more highly charged oligonucleotides bind more tightly and require stronger elution conditions.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_1_IEX_overview_including_elution_order_dependency_on_analyte_charge_3419ad3075.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 1 IEX overview including elution order dependency on analyte charge." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_1_IEX_overview_including_elution_order_dependency_on_analyte_charge_3419ad3075.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1583" height="654"><h4>The Five-Step Workflow of Ion Exchange Chromatography</h4>AEX separations generally follow a well-established sequence of steps:<ol><li>Column equilibration The column is conditioned with the starting buffer until the baseline and pH are stable. This ensures that all charged sites on the resin are ready for interaction.</li><li>Sample loading Samples, prepared in the starting buffer, are introduced under conditions that promote binding of the target oligonucleotides while minimizing retention of unwanted impurities.</li><li>Washing The column is washed with the starting buffer to remove uncharged or weakly interacting components. The baseline stabilizes as these species are flushed away.</li><li>Elution Bound oligonucleotides are released using a salt or pH gradient. Increasing ionic strength introduces competing ions that displace the analytes from the resin. Weakly bound species elute first; strongly charged oligonucleotides elute later.</li><li>Regeneration and re-equilibration A high-salt buffer removes any remaining bound material. The column is then returned to starting conditions in preparation for the next analysis.</li></ol><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_2_Five_steps_of_IEX_procedure_in_blue_outlined_using_an_example_chromatogram_in_red_38dd70b1b1.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 2 Five steps of IEX procedure (in blue), outlined using an example chromatogram (in red)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_2_Five_steps_of_IEX_procedure_in_blue_outlined_using_an_example_chromatogram_in_red_38dd70b1b1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1583" height="674"><h4>Why AEX Is Especially Effective for Oligonucleotides</h4>The repeating phosphate backbone of oligonucleotides gives rise to a strong and uniform anionic character across a wide pH range (typically pH 7–9). This makes oligonucleotides exceptionally well suited for anion exchange separations.Key factors influencing AEX behavior include:<ul><li>Charge density: Longer oligonucleotides carry more negative charges and therefore exhibit stronger retention.</li><li>Resin chemistry: Strong and weak anion exchangers differ in functional groups and pH stability, influencing selectivity and robustness.</li><li>Buffer composition: The choice of buffering ions and salt gradients directly affects elution strength and resolution.</li></ul>Salt gradients—commonly based on chloride ions—compete with the oligonucleotide backbone for binding sites on the resin. By carefully tuning gradient slope and composition, analysts can achieve highly reproducible and finely resolved separations.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_3_Ionic_interactions_and_p_H_influence_on_Anion_Exchange_Chromatography_AEX_612e231ba4.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 3 Ionic interactions and pH influence on Anion Exchange Chromatography (AEX)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_3_Ionic_interactions_and_p_H_influence_on_Anion_Exchange_Chromatography_AEX_612e231ba4.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1547" height="593"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_4_AEX_buffer_selection_and_gradient_strategy_chromatogram_with_red_buffer_gradient_curve_53fd1bb11b.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 4 AEX buffer selection and gradient strategy (chromatogram with red buffer gradient curve)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_4_AEX_buffer_selection_and_gradient_strategy_chromatogram_with_red_buffer_gradient_curve_53fd1bb11b.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="327"><h4>AEX as the Gold Standard for Oligonucleotide Separation</h4>Anion exchange chromatography has become the method of choice for both analytical and preparative oligonucleotide workflows. Its advantages include:<ul><li>High resolving power: Closely related impurities, including n–1 or n–2 species, can often be separated and quantified.</li><li>Predictable retention behavior: In many cases, retention time correlates linearly with oligonucleotide length, simplifying identification.</li><li>Compatibility with modified oligonucleotides: Even chemically modified sequences retain their anionic nature, allowing AEX to resolve both products and related impurities.</li><li>Excellent control via gradient elution: Salt gradients provide precise tuning of selectivity and resolution.</li></ul>Typically, shorter or degraded oligonucleotides elute at lower ionic strength, while full-length products with higher charge density appear later in the chromatogram.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_5_AEX_Advantages_and_Challenges_7835521e34.jpg" alt="KNAUER: Oligos Made Easy - Part 2 AEX: Figure 5 AEX Advantages and Challenges." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_KNAUER_Oligos_Made_Easy_Part_2_AEX_Figure_5_AEX_Advantages_and_Challenges_7835521e34.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1535" height="707"><h4>Final Perspective: Mastering AEX with Confidence</h4>Anion exchange chromatography may appear complex at first, but with thoughtful optimization of pH, buffer composition, and gradient conditions, it becomes a highly precise and reliable tool for oligonucleotide analysis. When properly applied, AEX delivers sharp peaks, excellent resolution, and robust performance—even for challenging sequences and modifications.For laboratories developing or refining oligonucleotide workflows, AEX offers both analytical depth and operational confidence.<blockquote>If you would like to discuss AEX method development or optimization for oligonucleotides, feel free to contact us at sales@knauer.net. More insights into practical oligonucleotide analysis will follow in our “Oligos Made Easy” series.For technical questions or in-depth discussion, the author can be reached at kindler@knauer.net</blockquote>

Oligos Made Easy - Part 2: AEX

News from LabRulezLCMS Library - Week 07, 2026

Article

Application

Plastics

Environment

Science and research

Poster

RECETOX (Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment) is an independent department of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University in Brno, which has been established in 1983. RECETOX is focused on the research and education in cross-cutting area of Environment and Health. It addresses interactions among chemicals, environment, and biological systems, including consequences at local, regional, and global levels.

RECETOX - Centrum pro výzkum toxických látek v prostředí

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

Based in Berlin, KNAUER is a medium-sized, owner-managed company that has been serving the sciences since 1962. We develop and manufacture scientific instruments of superior quality for liquid chromatography, including: Analytical HPLC/UHPLC, Preparative HPLC, Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), Multi-column chromatography/Simulated moving bed (SMB) chromatography. High pressure dosing, in-line detection systems, and osmometry are additional business areas.

KNAUER

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Agilent Technologies

US HUPO

Bruker

SelectScience

Wiley

Shimadzu Corporation

SCIEX

Waters Corporation

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a class of toxic natural compounds found in various plant species worldwide. Many PAs have been identified as contaminants in tea, dried herbs, and herbal dietary supplements. The presence of PAs in these products is mainly associated with co-harvest of PA-containing weeds. Considering PA are genotoxic carcinogens to humans, maximum levels have been set by the European Commission in Regulation 2020/2040 for a number of commodities. This talk will cover challenges and pitfalls encountered in quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of PAs. Results generated during optimization experiments and validation of an LC-MS/MS method in a wide range of matrices will be presented.
Key Learning Objectives/What attendees will learn:
<ul>
<li>Information on pyrrolizidine alkaloids and contamination of dietary supplements and ingredients including applicable legislation.
</li>
<li>Overview of pitfalls and challenges that need to be addressed in quantitative pyrrolizidine alkaloid analysis.
</li>
<li>Summary of experiments and results collected during optimization and validation of internal LC-MS/MS method.
</li>
</ul>
Who Should Attend: food testing lab personnel, researchers and regulators interested in pyrrolizidine alkaloid testing.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lukas Vaclavik, PhD (Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing, Madison, WI)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Lukas Vaclavik currently works as technical manager at Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing and supports the area of contaminant and residue testing. Prior to joining Eurofins, Lukas worked at the CFSAN of the U.S. FDA. Lukas has authored or co-authored over 40 scientific publications focused on chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of chemical residues, contaminants and adulterants. He received his Ph.D. in Food Chemistry and Analysis from the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic.
</blockquote>

Agilent: Use of LC-MS/MS Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Dietary Supplements and Foods

Use of LC-MS/MS Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Dietary Supplements and Foods

This talk will cover challenges and pitfalls encountered in quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of Pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

LC-MS/MS for Analysis of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Dr. Wanqiu Zhang will report on the novel spatial multi-omics pipeline for integrating spatial lipidomics and transcriptomics data of prostate cancer.
Dr. Maria Mantas will report on quantitative mass spectrometry imaging of lipids in brain tissue using a multi class internal standard mixture.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Wanqiu Zhang (Machine Learning Scientist, Aspect Analytics)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Dr. Wanqiu Zhang obtained her PhD in the department of Electrical Engineering at KU Leuven (Belgium), specializing in machine learning, spatial multi-omics data analysis. She has joined Aspect Analytics as a machine learning scientist since she finished her PhD. She is currently actively leading and involved in multiple spatial multi-omics projects.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Maria Mantas (Bioinformatician, Aspect Analytics)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Maria Mantas obtained her PhD in Computational Comparative Genomics at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in molecular biology, genetics, phylogenetics and pathway analysis using Big Data. Since joining Aspect Analytics as a Bioinformatician in 2022, Dr. Mantas has been involved in various spatial multi-omics integration studies, involving proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics data, as well as spatial transcriptomics and imaging mass cytometry. Many of her current projects also include integrations with the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas.
</blockquote>

New Frontiers in Spatial Omics

Join us for the next webinar in the series, hosted by the US HUPO MS Imaging SIG - New Frontiers in Spatial Omics

<a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/1016">Wiley’s KnowItAll software</a> offers integrated solutions to identify, analyze, and manage analytical and chemical data. Combined with comprehensive high-quality spectral reference databases, it provides one of the most advanced technologies available for fast, reliable spectral analysis.
<a href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/1016">KnowItAll</a> supports multiple techniques and instrument vendor formats. So whether you use one or more techniques, it can work across a single lab using one instrument or multiple labs with multiple instrument types. Using a vendor neutral solution like KnowItAll is important further in that it future proofs your lab, so even if you add instruments or change vendors your analytical workflow stays intact. 
In this session, we will demonstrate through a series of live examples some of the powerful spectral search tools available within the KnowItAll for unknown spectral analysis in a multi-technique laboratory setting. 
<h5>You will discover:</h5>
<ul>
<li>How KnowItAll offers a consolidated workflow for one or more analytical techniques by combining all the tools needed for spectral analysis and data management into a single, easy-to-use interface. </li>
<li>How to perform an adaptive search to find similar compounds where a fragment group can be present or absent compared to the unknown. </li>
<li>How to perform fast orthogonal searches for unknown spectra within the KnowItAll software and interpret those results. </li>
<li>In addition to our empirical libraries, you will discover how to use a new predicted library to expand the addressable chemical space for spectral identification.</li>
</ul>
This session is recommended for:
<ul>
<li>Scientists and chemists who use multiple laboratory techniques or are interested in learning more about our capabilities. </li>
<li>Professors and students engaged in chemistry and multiple laboratory technique courses or lab work.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Leanna Ergin (Assistant Editor, Wiley Science Solutions)
</blockquote>

Wiley: Introduction to KnowItAll for Multi-Spectral Techniques

Introduction to KnowItAll for Multi-Spectral Techniques

We will demonstrate some of the powerful spectral search tools available within the KnowItAll for unknown spectral analysis in a multi-technique laboratory

Microbes, the oldest and most abundant life forms on Earth, reside within us in staggering numbers, outweighing our own cells. These microscopic marvels not only play a critical role in our health but also hold the key to groundbreaking discoveries, from antibiotics to gene editing.
Here&#39;s an astonishing piece of information: over 90% of Earth&#39;s microbes remain uncharacterized, forming this immense hidden realm called the Dark Microbiome. This unexplored territory brims with immense potential for future advancements in medicine, biotechnology, and drug discovery.
In this insightful webinar, you will discover:
<ul>
<li>The unique role of Mass Spectrometry-based proteomics in unlocking the functional capabilities of microbiomes (aka. Metaproteomics) and its profound impact on understanding health and disease.</li>
<li>How we use the groundbreaking capabilities of the timsTOF Ultra mass spectrometer to reach unprecedented depth, sensitivity, and quantitative analysis of complex microbiome samples.</li>
<li>How we push the boundaries of sensitivity to achieve sub-pg peptide detection, paving the way to discover new biology.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: David Gómez-Varela, Ph.D. (Systems Biology of Pain, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria)
</blockquote>

Bruker: Clinical Proteomics: Ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry sheds light on the microbiome

Ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry sheds light on the microbiome

You will discover the role of Mass Spectrometry-based proteomics and the capabilities of the timsTOF Ultra mass spectrometer.

Ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry and the microbiome

<h3>LC-MS/MS 201 webinar series</h3>
Advanced techniques for data acquisition and processing
<h4>Elevate your analytical expertise with advanced techniques and workflows</h4>
Sharpen your data acquisition and processing skills with our LC-MS/MS 201 webinar series. Based on our LC-MS/MS 101 webinar series, these sessions will go beyond the fundamentals of LC-MS/MS and introduce ways to advance your analytical methods and data processing workflows. Every other week, we will explore how to optimize SCIEX OS software with short, 30-minute expert-led presentations.
<h3>This webinar:</h3>
<h4>April 18, 2024</h4>
<h5>10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET - Troubleshooting at the source</h5>
<ul>
<li>Acquire the knowledge needed to optimize source parameters and identify and resolve ionization-related problems.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Other webinars from the series:</h3>
<h4>March 21, 2024</h4>
<h5>10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3705">Mastering chromatography</a></h5>
<ul>
<li>Discover how to optimize your chromatography for even the most challenging compounds while creating and building LC methods.</li>
</ul>
<h4>April 4, 2024</h4>
<h5>10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3706">It&#39;s a TRAP! Getting the most out of your QTRAP system</a></h5>
<ul>
<li>Learn when to utilize QTRAP functionality to create more selective and sensitive methods.</li>
</ul>
<h4>May 2, 2024</h4>
<h5>10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3708">Automating data processing</a></h5>
<ul>
<li>Learn how to automate your data processing with custom flagging and rules for efficient data review in SCIEX OS software.</li>
</ul>
<h4>May 16, 2024</h4>
<h5>10:00 a.m. PT/ 1:00 p.m. ET - <a href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/webinar/3709">Excel strategies for mass spectrometry data analysis</a></h5>
<ul>
<li>Take an in-depth look at when and how to use Excel to increase your productivity.</li>
</ul>

Troubleshooting at the source (LC/MS)

Acquire the knowledge needed to optimize source parameters and identify and resolve ionization-related problems.

By attending this eSeminar, you will:
<ul>
<li>Gain practical insights into optimizing sample preparation in alignment with EPA Method 1633’s regulatory requirements by the use of dual-phase SPE cartridges, covering background analysis, MDL studies, and recoveries</li>
<li>Benefit from real-world experiences from Complete Environmental Testing, offering valuable insights on navigating EPA 1633 in an end-to-end workflow, while utilizing dual-phase SPE cartridges to improve laboratory efficiency</li>
<li>Understand key details for successful PFAS analysis</li>
<li>Learn how to optimize analysis for ultra-short chain PFAS compounds</li>
<li>See how to expand the range of PFAS compounds to analyze in a single run</li>
</ul>
<h4>Event Overview</h4>
Separation Science, in collaboration with its sponsors Waters and Restek, is pleased to bring you an upcoming online eSeminar focusing on advances in PFAS analysis. This unique event will bring together key experts in the field and provide an interactive learning environment for scientists working in this industry.
<h4>Presentations</h4>
Efficiency in EPA Method 1633: Validation and Implementation Strategies
by Jeffrey Smith, Director of Operations, Complete Environmental Testing (CET)
Join us for a presentation focused on optimizing EPA Method 1633 in your laboratory highlighting the validation and implementation of dual-phase WAX and GCB cartridges. EPA 1633 establishes a method for the determination of 40 PFAS from challenging matrices such as non-potable waters, soils, biosolids, and tissue. For these matrix types, sample preparation has moved beyond the use of a WAX cartridge alone. GCB has been added to the sample preparation workflow to provide additional sample cleanup. We will discuss the full EPA 1633 workflow, including topics such as background analysis for soils and water, MDLs achieved, observed recovery in authentic samples, and the practical advantages of dual-phase cartridges in reducing manual labor steps compared to loose GCB in EPA 1633.
This presentation is designed for scientists, laboratory managers, and others looking to implement and validate EPA Method 1633 or optimize their sample preparation process in their current workflow. Join us as Complete Environmental Testing shares experiences on working with the complex matrices in EPA 1633 and breaks down advantages in their method workflow with the use of dual-phase SPE cartridges.
Untapped Ultrashort-chain PFAS Analysis Combined with Routine PFAS Analysis in a Single LC-MS/MS Run
by Mike Chang, Market Development Manager, Restek Corporation
Starting from measuring C8 many decades ago, today’s PFAS testing requires a lot more chromatography capabilities when an extended list of PFAS analysis is desired. Chain length ranging from C1 to C18 and a functional group changing from carboxylic acids to ethers, sulfonamides, and more, with multiple oxygens in the structure, can be challenging for a chromatograph all in one run. In this presentation, we will see examples of a combined PFAS panel analyzed in one run with chain length from C1 and above, in addition to AFFF and FTS compounds.
<h4>What you need to know:</h4>
Date: 16 April, 2024
Start times:
<ul>
<li>Broadcast 1: 9 am BST (London) / 10 am CEST (Paris/Berlin) / 1:30 pm IST (New Delhi) / 4 pm SGT (Singapore)
</li>
<li>Broadcast 2: 10 am PDT (Los Angeles) / 12 pm CDT (Chicago) / 1 pm EDT (New York)
</li>
</ul>
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jeffrey Smith (Director of Operations, Complete Environmental Testing (CET))
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Jeffrey Smith holds a BS in Chemistry from Quinnipiac University. He has been working in environmental analytical chemistry for 18 years, with experience in several disciplines, including GC/MS and LC-MS/MS. Jeffrey now serves as the director of operations at Complete Environmental Testing. For the past few years, his focus as director has been building the PFAS department at CET from the ground up, including method development and researching LC/MS/MS instrumentation for the laboratory. Jeffrey serves on several PFAS work groups and is an active member of the Reasonable Confidence QA/QC Protocols work group for the state of Connecticut.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Mike Chang (Market Development Manager, Restek Corporation)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
With an analytical chemistry background and 15+ years of experience in the chromatography industry, from instrumentation to applications, Mike is the key liaison to testing agencies and industries, bringing better ways of measuring contaminants in the environment and food. He has been chairing PFAS sessions and presenting PFAS topics at various conferences.
</blockquote>

Advances in PFAS Analysis

Understand essential details for successful PFAS analysis and optimize EPA Method 1633 in your lab.

The European Union (EU) has one of the highest levels of food safety standards in the world, largely due to the extensive body of legislation in place, which ensures that food is safe. The rules apply from farm to fork, whether food is produced in the EU or imported from elsewhere in the world.
One key tool used to react rapidly to food and feed safety crises and incidents is the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) which enables information to be shared rapidly and efficiently between food control authorities in Member States and the European Commission when a risk to health has been identified. In this way, countries can act rapidly and in a coordinated manner to avert food safety risks before they can harm consumers including the management of costly product recalls.
<h5>What will I learn?</h5>
In this webinar, you will learn about how RASFF operates as applied to residues and contaminants in food of animal origin, some historical trends (veterinary drug residues), and emerging threats (PFAS). 
We will also delve into the analytical methods suitable for determination of key chemical hazards, for checking compliance with EU regulations, which will avoid RASFF notifications, both prior to export but also for official control within the EU (and elsewhere).
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Presenter: Simon HIRD, Ph.D, MRSC, CChem. (Strategic Analyst, Testing and Laboratory Services, Waters Corporation)
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Simon Hird has worked for Waters since 2014 as a Principal Scientist, in the Food and Environmental Market area and now as a Strategic Analyst in Waters’ new Testing and Laboratory Service business unit. Simon contributes to scientific projects, is involved in the commercialisation of new technologies, and provides advice, training, and context to various parts of the Waters organisation and to customers globally. Simon instructs on internationally recognised training courses, such as SARAF, GFoRSS and for AOAC India section. Simon continues to be invited to present at international conferences and has 24 peer-reviewed publications, including one of the most downloaded Trends in Analytical Chemistry articles, “Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of chemical contaminants in food”. Prior to joining Waters, Simon spent almost 20 years at a government laboratory in the UK (now called Fera Science), where he had various roles associated with residues testing and food authenticity before leading an LC-MS/MS team responsible for determination of residues and contaminants in food and environmental samples.
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Moderator: Moderator - Joanne Ho, Ph.D. (Food and Environmental, APAC Market Development Manager, Waters Corporation)
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Joanne Ho is the Food and Environmental Market Development at Waters Corporation. She received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of New South Wales, Australia. During her career, Joanne has developed applications using LC and LC-MS techniques for a variety of applications ranging from active ingredients like organic acids to food contaminant residues like mycotoxins. Joanne is part of the Asia Pacific team and works with customers in the region to understand their analytical challenges and helps address them with Waters solutions.
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Waters Corporation: Historical and Emerging Trends for Residues and Contaminants in Products of Animal Origin

Historical and Emerging Trends for Residues and Contaminants in Products of Animal Origin

Learn how RASFF operates as applied to residues and contaminants in food of animal origin, veterinary drug residues, and PFAS.

Residues and Contaminants in Products of Animal Origin

Food quality control is a key step in the manufacturing process of a successful product. It aims at ensuring that the public consume safe food products free from risks associated with contamination or exposure to allergens. It also helps combat fraudulent activities which can undermine the authenticity and economic value of a food product. For all these reasons, developing fast and robust analytical methods for food quality control is important.
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is a well-established and widely used technique in various fields. Compared to other analytical techniques, it is particularly appreciated for its speed of analysis, simplicity and robustness. In this webinar, we will present some examples of MALDI-based applications for food quality control aiming at tackling issues of food adulteration and safety, using a small benchtop MALDI-TOF instrument from Shimadzu.
We will host a Q&amp;A session after the presentation to address any questions or comments.
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Presenter: Nazim Boutaghou, Ph.D. (Life Science Product Manager, Shimadzu Scientific Instruments)
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Nazim Boutaghou received a Master’s degree with a dual major in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Bordeaux 1. He joined Dr. Jean Marie Schmitter’s research group at the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology and worked on establishing H/D exchange protocols to study molecular processes taking place in the early onset of the Alzheimer’s disease. After a short break from science to study business management, Nazim joined Dr. Richard Coles’ group at the Louisiana State University in New Orleans (UNO) and advanced his work in the field of Mass Spectrometry, specializing mostly on MALDI-based workflows. He authored and co-authored several publications related to development of novel MALDI matrices, and various proteomics topics. He joined Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI, American Subsidiary of Shimadzu Corporation) in 2013 as an application scientist and became product manager for the life Science products in 2019. He leads a team of several scientist that support life science products and applications for SSI.
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Presenter: Simona Salivo (Senior MALDI Applications Specialist, Kratos Analytical)
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Simona Salivo was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy. She graduated in “Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies” and earned her Ph.D. degree at the Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health Products of the University of Messina, Italy. She studied under the guidance of the renowned Prof. Luigi Mondello and Prof. Peter Quinto Tranchida and focused during her graduate studies on the development of multidimensional gas chromatography techniques coupled with single quadrupole and high-resolution mass spectrometry for the characterization of lipids in food and biological matrices. Throughout her research, she developed a passion for structural characterisation of lipids which she brought into her current role at Shimadzu. During her Ph.D., she was awarded a 6-month work experience at Shimadzu Corporation in Kyoto, Japan, where she worked on MALDI-TOF MS and MALDI imaging of lipids. This started her journey into the world of MALDI mass spectrometry and the Shimadzu family where she is now a Senior MALDI Applications Specialist at Kratos Analytical in Manchester, UK. In her job, she works with her team to develop numerous MALDI-based applications to showcase the Shimadzu MALDI products, and she works closely with the R&amp;D Department on the development of the Shimadzu MALDI instruments and software, by providing technical feedback and evaluating the products at the different stages of development and manufacturing.
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Shimadzu: Shimadzu MALDI-Based Solutions for Food Quality Control

Shimadzu MALDI-Based Solutions for Food Quality Control

We will present some examples of MALDI-based applications for food quality control aiming at tackling issues of food adulteration and safety.

Join us LIVE for the Waters Journal Club.
This interactive session will bring together the MS community to discuss some of the most popular and exciting peer-reviewed publications in a friendly and open forum. 
Ahead of each meeting, we will send out a link to the discussion article, then during the session an expert will summarise the main findings and answer your questions. 
Be prepared make sure you <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02406">read Advancing Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Methods for Studying Biomolecules: Toward the Conformational Dynamics of Mega Dalton Protein Aggregates</a>
We&#39;re going to be joined by ETH Zurich, one of the world&#39;s leading universities in science and technology, known for its cutting-edge research and innovation, pioneering effective solutions to the global challenges of today and tomorrow.
This paper describes how Waters&#39; SELECT SERIES Cyclic IMS can be utilized for the analysis of large biomolecular systems, including temperature-induced protein aggregates of masses greater than 1.5 MDa, as well as a 63 kDa oligonucleotide complex.
Reasons to Attend:
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<li>Debate some of the most topical papers from all-time favourites to some of the latest releases</li>
<li>Focus on understanding the benefit of Cyclic IMS and how to get the most out of the system for native mass spectrometry and biomolecule analysis</li>
<li>Gain a greater understanding of applications and technologies by asking questions of the authors and/or expert panel</li>
<li>No pre-recorded content, authors will be LIVE and on camera to answer questions</li>
</ul>
Abstract: Native mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for the analysis of noncovalent complexes. When coupled with high-resolution ion mobility, this technique can be used to investigate the conformational changes induced in said complexes by different solution or gas-phase conditions. In this study, we describe how a new-generation high-resolution ion mobility instrument equipped with a cyclic ion mobility cell can be utilized for the analysis of large biomolecular systems, including temperature-induced protein aggregates of masses greater than 1.5 MDa, as well as a 63 kDa oligonucleotide complex. The effects of and the interplay between the voltages applied to the different components of the cyclic ion mobility spectrometry system on ion transmission and arrival time distribution were demonstrated using biomolecules covering the m/z range 2000–10,000. These data were used to establish a theoretical framework for achieving the best separation in the cyclic ion mobility system. Finally, the cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometer was coupled with a temperature-controlled electrospray ionization source to investigate high-mass protein aggregation. This analysis showed that it was possible to continuously monitor the change in abundance for several conformations of MDa aggregates with increasing temperature. This work significantly increases the range of biomolecules that can be analyzed by both cyclic ion mobility and temperature-controlled electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, providing new possibilities for high-resolution ion mobility analysis.
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Presenter: Dr. Julian Harrison (Staff of Professorship for Analytical Chemistry, ETH Zurich)
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Julian Harrison received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Wollongong in 2020, working under the supervision of Prof. Jennifer L. Beck and Dr. Celine Kelso. In 2021, he was employed as a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zürich under the direction of Prof. Renato Zenobi. ]
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He works in multiple fields, primarily studying protein complexes, enzymes, snake venoms, and new therapeutics using native, temperature-controlled, and ion mobility mass spectrometry. In collaboration with Adam Pruška, he is also helping design a new temperature-controlled source, which will be the basis for their new company.
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Presenter: Dr . Adam Pruška (Staff of Professorship for Analytical Chemistry, ETH Zurich)
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Adam Pruška studied analytical chemistry at Masaryk University in the Czech Republic and Justus-Liebig University in Germany under the supervision of Prof. Jan Preisler and Prof. Bernhard Spengler.
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He finished his M.Sc. in 2017, specializing in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and the multimodal bioimaging of tumor spheroids. Continuing his academic career, Adam obtained his Ph.D. at ETH Zurich in 2023, within the group of Prof. Renato Zenobi.
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His doctoral research focused on exploring the thermodynamics of nucleic acids, proteins, and their non-covalent complexes. He is embarking on an entrepreneurial path as a postdoctoral researcher, developing temperature-controlled electrospray ionization technology for commercial use.
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Presenter: Philipp Bittner (Student / Programme Doctorate at D-​CHAB, ETH Zurich)
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Philipp Bittner graduated from the University of Regensburg, Germany, with a B.Sc. in Biology (2015) and an M.Sc. in Biochemistry (2018).
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After finishing his first research project about photoresponsive enzyme complexes in Prof. Reinhard Sterner&#39;s group, he joined Prof. Renato Zenobi&#39;s native MS team for his Ph.D. thesis (2020).
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His research now focuses on mass spectrometric investigations of modified collagen peptides, DNA-encoded chemical libraries, and antibody glycosylation patterns.
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Presenters: Despoina Svingou (Student / Programme Doctorate at D-CHAB, ETH Zurich)
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Despoina Svingou obtained her B.Sc. in Chemistry and M.Sc. in Natural Products Chemistry &amp; Pharmacognosy from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research focused on developing LC-MS methods for the analytical determination of bioactive compounds in various complex matrices. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at ETH Zurich under the supervision of Prof. Renato Zenobi.
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She utilizes cutting-edge techniques such as native mass spectrometry and gas-phase fluorescence spectroscopy to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and develop novel methodologies to characterize amyloidogenic proteins and their complexes.
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Presenter: Dale Cooper-Shepherd (Principal Scientist, Waters Corporation, UK)
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Dale Cooper-Shepherd undertook PhD studies at the University of Leeds and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Oxford, UK. Throughout his training, Cooper-Shepherd specialized in applying MS techniques in the field of structural biology. He joined Waters in 2015 and since 2019 has been working on the SELECT SERIES of instruments.
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Waters: Waters Journal Club: Advancing Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Methods for Studying Biomolecules

Waters Journal Club: Advancing Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Methods for Studying Biomolecules

Waters' SELECT SERIES Cyclic IMS can be utilized for the analysis of large biomolecular systems.

Advancing Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) is the European Union’s new set of rules aimed at improving the quality, safety and reliability of IVDs. The new regulation is impacting the in vitro diagnostic landscape, affecting laboratories using their own “Laboratory Developed Tests” (LDTs) and those compliant with certain accreditation e.g. standard EN ISO 15189.
In this webinar you will learn:
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<li>What is IVDR and what are the timelines</li>
<li>What are the requirements for in-house tests (LDTs)</li>
<li>What are the next steps for your lab</li>
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Presenter: Fabian Reijn (Diagnotix)
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Presenter: Magali Wolff (Tecan)
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Making sense of IVDR for LC-MS

In this webinar you will learn what is IVDR and what are the timelines, what are the requirements for in-house tests, and what are the next steps for your lab.

LCMS webinars focusing on LC/MS - page 58