Latest News and Application Notes

How do you handle the analysis and characterization of a complex sample like whisky*? In a recent interview with eFood Lab International, Dr. Geraint (Taff) Morgan of the Applied Science & Technology Group at the Open University, UK, says a 1D quadrupole GC-MS is sufficient for routine analysis, but when he really wants to dig into the non-target analysis of a complex sample, he turns to GC-TOFMS and GCxGC-TOFMS, such as that employed by the LECO Pegasus^® BT 4D.

With ever-increasing demands on your time and resources, optimizing your workflow is essential. Learn how state of the art instrument and software solutions come together, to enhance your one- and two-dimensional gas chromatography applications (GC-MS and GCxGC-MS) in a collection of short webinars presented on Wednesday, November 30. These webinars will be presented twice for ease of international audiences.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has long been an invaluable tool in a chemist's belt. With its ability to tease apart the compounds in a sample, identifying even trace analytes, it is able to perform specific tests and pinpoint what, exactly, is in the material being analyzed. But what can you do when GC-MS isn't enough?

LECO recently concluded a webinar series on agricultural applications of our instruments with a presentation by Dr Frank Dorman of Dartmouth College, Department of Chemistry, formerly of Penn State University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While at Penn State, Frank worked on an environmental forensic investigation of wastewater applied to agricultural fields.

Petroleum products are used the world over, and they all start with crude oil refinement. In distilling, cracking, and reforming the crude oil into petroleum products, many analytical instruments and tests are needed to monitor the process and maintain the quality demanded by consumers and regulations.

Environmental crises are now a daily concern in labs all around the world, and scientists are racing to get ahead of the problems. In their latest e-book partnership, LCGC and LECO teamed up to turn a spotlight on some of the latest GC-MS and GCxGC-MS techniques that can help labs pull ahead of the curve.

Pesto can trace its roots back to ancient times, though it really only started taking off in North America in the 1980s and 90s. Though the primary base is consistent, with pine nuts, basil, and olive oil, individual recipes vary. As canned and bottled pesto became more accessible, individual manufacturers developed their own unique flavor profiles. While these recipes are usually trade secrets, the power of GCxGC TOFMS can tease apart some of the differences.

It seems like every December, the world becomes just a little more interested in frankincense and myrrh. Just what are these gifts mentioned in the Christmas story? And what sets them apart?

The pressure to save money is everywhere these days. The changes due to COVID-19 have only exacerbated the age-old question your own lab has probably asked: how can we cut costs? One hidden expense in a GC-MS lab setting is the cost of cleaning your instrument's ion source.

Charred oak barrels that were once used to age bourbon have found new life as they get repurposed for a variety of foods and beverages to add a new flavor profile to familiar delicacies. But how much can an old bourbon-soaked barrel change the chemical makeup? LECO used ChromaTOF® Tile to differentiate regular and barrel-aged maple syrups and quantify the difference.