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Concentrating on Chromatography

David Oliva

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!

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  • 33 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 39 min
  • English

Episodes 33

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  • Monday · 37 min

    Episode 85: Kody Coyne: Building Flash & HPLC Methods for Brand-New Molecules (Undergrad Research)

    Undergraduate researcher Kody Coyne is building a safer, hydrazine-free way to make nitrogen–nitrogen, nitrogen–oxygen, and nitrogen–sulfur bonds. Because every product is a brand-new compound, he has to invent the chromatography method to purify it. Kody is a biochemistry major and varsity swimmer at Monmouth College. In this episode he explains how he uses a custom C18 reversed-phase HPLC method to identify his product peak. He then uses that same information to decide between reversed-phase and normal-phase flash chromatography. He also explains how he double-checks every result with HPLC, FTIR, and NMR, and what he learned when his older flash system reported a negative absorbance. In this episode How Kody learned Schlenk lines, flash chromatography, and HPLC by doing the work himself How he landed his research project through Monmouth's summer research program Why the hydrazine-free bond chemistry could make drug synthesis cheaper and safer Why novel compounds get flash chromatography first, with recrystallization tested later How a custom C18 HPLC method helps him pick the right flash stationary phase and gradient How he uses HPLC to confirm which flash fractions contain product What a clean trace looks like, and why he doesn't trust any single instrument Why chromatography slows work on new molecules but not on well-documented ones Why working under nitrogen keeps unwanted peaks out of the chromatogram The hot dog cooked in a benchtop microwave synthesizer His advice to undergraduates: don't wait until you're an expert If you're an undergraduate about to run your first flash column or HPLC sample, his advice is simple: don't wait until you're an expert to start. Concentrating on Chromatography is hosted by David Oliva of Organomation.

  • October 26 · 47 min

    Episode 84: Chris Freye (Los Alamos) — Chromatography, Chemometrics, and the Science of Aging Explosives

    Chris Freye, Ph.D., is a staff scientist in the High Explosives Science and Technology group at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he uses GC×GC, UHPLC, UHPLC-IMS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry to study how high explosives and plastic-bonded explosives (PBXs) change over time. In this episode, Chris discusses his path from rock climbing in the Pacific Northwest to a PhD under GC×GC pioneer Robert Synovec at the University of Washington, and how that training shaped his current work at Los Alamos. He walks through the unique safety and security realities of national lab chemistry, from handling gram-scale samples to retrieving material from magazines holding thousands of pounds of explosives, and explains why sample prep always starts with the scientific question rather than the instrument. The conversation covers why LC has long been the gold standard for explosives analysis and why it only tells half the story, how his team developed vacuum GC×GC to elute volatile explosives before they decompose, and the accidental discovery that a GC inlet can double as an aging oven — compressing three-year explosive aging studies into two hours. Chris also explains why his team started finding PFAS in high explosives materials through fluoropolymer binders, the extraction method they had to invent after standard EPA protocols failed, and how chemometric tools like Alteration Analysis and Fisher ratio analysis let them distill billions of data points into a simple yes-or-no answer about chemical change. Whether you work in chromatography, mass spectrometry, materials science, or just want a rare look inside high-explosives research, this episode covers the instrumentation, the chemistry, and the day-to-day reality of the work.

  • October 19 · 58 min

    Episode 83: Beyond DNA: Forensic Lubricant Analysis, DART-MS & Sexual Assault Evidence with Dr. Candice Bridge

    When DNA is absent, incomplete, or difficult to interpret, what other evidence can help forensic investigators make meaningful connections? In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, David Oliva speaks with Dr. Candice Bridge of the University of Central Florida and the National Center for Forensic Science about the emerging field of forensic lubricant analysis. Dr. Bridge explains how chemical residues from sexual lubricants can support sexual-assault investigations by helping connect a victim, suspect, condom wrapper, or crime scene—especially when a usable DNA profile is unavailable. She discusses why DNA is not always the “silver bullet” people expect, why preserving limited evidence is essential, and how forensic laboratories prioritize the least destructive analysis first. The conversation also explores the analytical chemistry behind lubricant evidence: The chemical differences among water-, silicone-, oil-, and natural/edible-based lubricants Why personal-care products such as lotions and oils can complicate forensic interpretation The limitations of conventional GC-MS for high-mass polymers such as PDMS and PEG How DART-TOF mass spectrometry enables rapid screening of complex forensic samples Why extraction from cotton swabs and other evidence substrates remains a critical challenge How solvent polarity affects recovery of lubricant components How likelihood ratios, population studies, and retail-market data could help assess the rarity and evidentiary value of a recovered lubricant residue Practical advice for undergraduate students considering careers in forensic science and analytical chemistry Dr. Bridge also shares why she chose an underdeveloped research area, what it takes to build a new forensic discipline, and why students should pursue socially important scientific questions—even when funding and established protocols have not yet caught up. Guest: Dr. Candice Bridge Host: David Oliva Podcast: Concentrating on Chromatography Follow the podcast for conversations on chromatography, mass spectrometry, forensic science, sample preparation, laboratory technology, and careers in analytical chemistry.

  • October 12 · 55 min

    Episode 82: Ultra-Fast GC Meets Mass Spec: Measuring Forest Chemicals That Create Storm Clouds

    He built a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer small enough to fit in a carry-on suitcase, then hauled it up a 43-meter tower in 100-degree Alabama heat to catch invisible forest chemicals in real time. Austin "Augie" Dobrecevich, a PhD researcher at the University of Washington, joins Candi and David to break down how his ultra-fast GC captures a full chromatogram every single second, isomer-speciating the biogenic VOCs (like alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and limonene) that trees release into the atmosphere. Those compounds don't just disappear; they react with ozone and each other, eventually seeding the massive summer thunderstorms that roll over the southeast. Augie walks through why traditional chemical ionization mass spec struggles to tell chemical isomers apart, how his fast GC front end solves that blind spot, and the engineering trade-offs required to make the whole system run on less power than a vacuum cleaner. The conversation also opens up into where this technology could go next, from oceanographic research to coral reef VOC sampling, and closes with a candid look at the patent process: provisional patents, university tech transfer offices, IP strategy, and the leap from writing research papers to pitching a business case. Whether you're deep into analytical chemistry or just curious how scientists are learning to read the invisible chemistry of a forest, this episode covers both the technical detail and the real story of turning a lab prototype into something the world might actually use. Guest: Austin Dobrecevich Hosts: Candi Gokey and David Oliva

  • October 5 · 39 min

    Episode 81: PFAS, 6PPD-Quinone & the Science of Emerging Contaminants w/ Arielle Cocozza (ALS USA)

    Arielle Cocozza, National Technical PFAS Lead at ALS USA Environmental, joins David Oliva and Candi Gokey to break down the current state of PFAS analysis — from her unconventional path out of a physics degree into environmental chemistry, to standardizing PFAS methods across a national lab network.In this episode, Arielle explains what PFAS actually are and why their fluorine-carbon bonds make them so persistent, walks through LC-MS/MS vs. GC-MS/MS selection for different PFAS classes (including fluorotelomer alcohols and volatile fluorocarbons), and discusses column chemistry choices like C18 and pentafluorophenyl phases. The conversation dives deep into 6PPD-quinone — the tire-wear-particle degradation product linked to coho salmon die-offs — and how EPA fast-tracked Draft Method 1634 in response. Arielle also covers the Total Oxidizable Precursor (TOP) assay, EPA's new ultra-short direct-injection Method 1633/563 workflows, sample volume miniaturization, automation trends in extraction, and the patchwork of state-by-state PFAS regulations on food packaging and biosolids ahead of federal rulemaking.

  • September 28 · 1 hr

    Episode 80: Untargeted Metabolomics & Ocean Chemistry with Mauricio Caraballo

    Mauricio Caraballo, PhD, director of the MSCollaboratory at UC San Diego, joins Candi Gokey and host David Oliva to unpack how untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomics reveals hidden chemistry in coral reefs, fish, and ocean water. They dig into molecular networking, GNPS, and how free mass spec training is helping marine scientists worldwide analyze samples they couldn't otherwise decode. Links: mscollaboratory.ucsd.edu | Mauricio Caraballo: linkedin.com/in/mauricio-caraballo-4b5577176

  • September 21 · 30 min

    Episode 79: Mechanical engineer Mason Chilmonczyk on fixing mass spec's bubbles, clogs, and leaks

    Mechanical engineer Mason Chilmonczyk, PhD (Andson Biotech) joins host David Oliva to explain why sample prep — not the mass spec itself — is the biggest bottleneck in LC-MS and native MS workflows. Mason breaks down the DynaChip, a microfluidic device that shrinks hours of buffer exchange into seconds, and shares how "democratizing" mass spec is opening the door for cell therapy manufacturers to catch analytical blind spots that traditional workflows miss. A must-listen for anyone working in native mass spec, biopharma analytics, or cell therapy development.

  • September 14 · 33 min

    Episode 78: SPME, PFAS & Green Chemistry with Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo

    Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University at Buffalo, joins host David Oliva to explore solid phase microextraction (SPME), green analytical chemistry, and PFAS analysis. Trained in Professor Janusz Pawliszyn's lab at the University of Waterloo — where SPME was invented — she shares how deep SPME theory reshaped her research and now drives her lab's work on environmental and biological chemistry.In this episode, Emanuela discusses how SPME complies with the 12 principles of green analytical chemistry, why her lab consistently produces the least waste in her department, and how biomimetic SPME devices using natural biopolymers like alginic acid and chitin reveal how pollutants bioaccumulate in the environment. She also covers her lab's PFAS research, including a surprising study testing mascara for PFAS contamination, the analytical challenges of volatile PFAS detection, and why field-deployable PFAS quantification isn't quite ready yet.Topics covered: SPME fundamentals, green analytical chemistry, PFAS detection, biomimetic extraction, mixed-mode sorbents, GC×GC for volatile PFAS, and emerging microplastics research.Connect with Dr. Emanuela Gionfriddo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanuela-gionfriddo-60492659/Subscribe to Concentrating on Chromatography for more conversations with leading separation science researchers.

  • September 7 · 46 min

    Episode 77: Hybrid Metabolomics Explained: Bridging Targeted & Untargeted MS with Bruker's Matthew Lewis

    On this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, hosts David Oliva @Organomation and Candice Gokey are joined by Matthew Lewis @Bruker to unpack the new hybrid metabolomics workflow born from Bruker's acquisition of @biocrates .For 20 years, mass spectrometrists have had to choose between targeted quantitation and untargeted discovery. Matthew explains how chemical derivatization, high-resolution mass spec, and Biocrates' 1,000+ metabolite kits now let researchers get both — without running samples twice.Topics covered: - Why "there's no such thing as an untargeted platform, just an uninformed one" - How the Biocrates MX Quant Kits standardize sample prep and derivatization - NMR vs. mass spectrometry for metabolomics — and why electrospray ionization is metabolomics' "biggest Achilles heel" - Data-dependent (DDA) vs. data-independent (DIA) acquisition, explained simply - Trapped Ion Mobility Spectrometry (TIMS) and collisional cross-section (CCS) as a "gas-phase chromatography" tool for resolving isomers and interferences - In silico derivatization software for annotating derivatized metabolites - The "digital metabolome archive": building future-proof, reanalysis-ready 4D data (MS1 + retention time + CCS + MS/MS) for AI-ready datasets - Why standardization — not just new features — is what will move the metabolomics field forwardMatthew also shares insights from Bruker's collaboration with Dr. Michael Witting at the Helmholtz Institute, and discusses the real-world sample constraints (biobanks, field research, precious cohorts) driving demand for do-more-with-less workflows.Guest: Matthew Lewis, Bruker — https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-reese-lewis/Co-host: Candice Gokey — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmgokey15/Host: David Oliva, Organomation#Metabolomics #MassSpectrometry #Chromatography #Bruker #Biocrates #Lipidomics #SystemsBiology #TIMS #IonMobility

  • August 31 · 42 min

    Episode 76: PFAS Are Everywhere — And 99% Go Undetected | Dr. Viktoria Müller

    If you take a handful of dirt from the roadside, it contains PFAS. The challenge isn't finding forever chemicals — it's finding all of them. Standard monitoring methods cover 40 to 50 PFAS species. Thousands more go completely unmeasured. That's the gap Dr. Viktoria Müller has spent her career trying to close.Viktoria is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Graz specializing in PFAS environmental fate, transport, and the fluorine mass balance. Her work spans ski slopes, rivers, wastewater treatment plants, bees, wild deer, shrimp, and the Ganges River — and it has made international headlines. In this episode, she breaks down what we're missing, why routine analysis creates a false sense of security, and what wildlife can tell us that instruments alone cannot.In this episode:- [00:01:30] Why PFAS is unavoidable — and what you can actually control- [00:02:00] The pizza box explanation: how Viktoria describes PFAS to non-scientists- [00:04:00] How her research path built from soil → ski slopes → snowmelt → rivers → wildlife- [00:05:00] What "closing the fluorine mass balance gap" actually means for environmental monitoring- [00:06:50] Ski wax and the 99% problem: targeted PFAS analysis only identified less than 1% of the total organofluorine in ski wax — what is the rest?- [00:11:00] LC-MS/MS vs. ICP-MS/MS vs. CIC for PFAS and fluorine analysis — and which one Viktoria would buy ("don't blame me later")- [00:18:50] TOP assay vs. ozonation: same precursor, different breakdown products — what that means for anyone relying on TOP assay data- [00:21:00] Honeybees as short-term local PFAS sentinels — and how a beekeeper biologist changed how Viktoria interpreted her own data- [00:24:00] Collectors or house cleaners? How to tell whether an animal is accumulating PFAS or just carrying it on the surface- [00:25:30] The roe deer liver study: 87% drop in PFAS from 1998 to 2022 — bans work, but the industry keeps replacing regulated compounds with unregulated ones- [00:33:00] Wastewater treatment plants downstream: more PFAS species coming out than going in — and what the mass balance approach revealed about why- [00:37:00] Personal aside: Viktoria's one regret about not taking her own blood sample before she started working with PFAS- [00:39:30] What's next: a funded proposal exploring PFAS in clouds and atmospheric chemistry — a topic almost no one is working onConnect with Dr. Viktoria Müller:Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Prq41XUAAAAJ&hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktoria-m%C3%BCller-8a1843a7/About Organomation:Organomation manufactures nitrogen blowdown evaporators and nitrogen generators used in PFAS sample preparation workflows, including EPA Methods 533, 537.1, and 1633. Learn more at organomation.com. @ChromatographyTalk is proudly produced by @Organomation #PFAS #ForeverChemicals #AnalyticalChemistry #EnvironmentalChemistry #MassSpectrometry #Chromatography

  • August 24 · 42 min

    Episode 75: Breathomics, Asthma & GC×GC: PH Stefanuto on Fighting the “Proof‑of‑Concept” Trap

    In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, David Oliva and co‑host Candi Gokey sit down with Dr. Pierre‑Hugues (PH) Stefanuto to explore how comprehensive GC×GC‑TOFMS breathomics is reshaping asthma research and personalized medicine. PH shares his journey from forensic applications (yes, even the “smell of death”) to non‑invasive exhaled breath analysis for chronic lung inflammation, and why he believes asthma is the perfect playground to translate breath research into real clinical impact.We dig into PH’s recent work on a complete GC×GC‑TOFMS workflow to improve asthma monitoring, including patient breath collection, VOC analysis, biomarker discovery, and robust data processing strategies. He explains how combining targeted markers like FeNO with VOC “breathprints” can improve asthma phenotyping and treatment decisions, and how his group identified potential VOC biomarkers such as hexane, 1‑propanol, 2‑hexanone, undecane, and nonanal.A major theme of this conversation is PH’s call to “fight the breath proof‑of‑concept paradigm.” Instead of stopping at small, under‑powered studies, his group pushes through large cohorts, rigorous validation, and clinically relevant study design so that breath analysis can actually make it into the clinic and, eventually, into patients’ homes. We also talk candidly about skepticism toward breath analysis, how overpromising has hurt the field, and what it takes to rebuild trust with clinicians and medical staff.We also cover:Why the Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop (MDCW) was designed to be a free, open‑access event, and how that philosophy supports open science, networking, and inclusion of early‑career scientists and lab staff.PH’s path from forensic GC×GC to clinical breathomics and chronic inflammation research, and how CSI‑inspired curiosity turned into a career in analytical chemistry.How untargeted molecular screening and rich VOC fingerprints complement conventional single‑marker tests and enable finer‑grained patient phenotyping.Why GC×GC‑MS often achieves higher annotation rates than LC‑MS in certain metabolomics applications, thanks to retention patterns, EI libraries (NIST/Wiley), and structured 2D chromatography.The future vision: patients blowing into a simple device (or even a phone‑connected system) to monitor lung inflammation at home, integrate with wearables and environmental data, and guide day‑to‑day asthma management.How AI and machine learning can help connect small‑molecule breath data to larger metabolic pathways and multi‑omics datasets, inspired in part by platforms like GNPS.PH’s thoughts on chromatography education, why analytical chemistry is underrepresented in curricula, and how we should prepare the next generation of clinicians and scientists for omics‑driven healthcare.If you’re interested in chromatography, mass spectrometry, breath analysis, asthma, or translational metabolomics, this is a deep yet accessible conversation that bridges instrumentation, statistics, and real‑world clinical needs.Keywords: breathomics, exhaled breath analysis, asthma monitoring, GCxGC, GC×GC‑TOFMS, multidimensional chromatography, volatile organic compounds, VOC biomarkers, untargeted metabolomics, personalized medicine, PH Stefanuto, Pierre‑Hugues Stefanuto, MDCW, Multidimensional Chromatography Workshop, FeNO, chronic lung inflammation, clinical mass spectrometry, analytical chemistry education, chromatography podcast, Concentrating on Chromatography, David Oliva, Candi Gokey

  • August 17 · 45 min

    Episode 74: Decoding the Glycocode: AI-Powered Glycoproteomics & Cancer Research | Jacob Russell (Riley Lab, UW)

    In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host David Oliva is joined for the first time by co-host Candice (Candi) Gokey — PhD candidate at UC San Diego / San Diego State University and expert in LC-MS/MS method development for untargeted metabolomics to interview Jacob Russell, a third-year PhD student in the Riley Research Group at the University of Washington (Seattle).Jacob's research sits at the frontier of mass spectrometry based intact glycoproteomics, where the goal is to keep glycans attached to peptides during analysis — preserving the biological information that is lost when glycans are enzymatically removed. His lab, led by Prof. Nick Riley, develops new methods to tackle every stage of glycoproteomic analysis, from sample preparation and enrichment through data acquisition and bioinformatics.🔬 WHAT WE COVER:• What is the glycocalyx, and why does glycoproteomics matter for cancer, immunity, and protein biology?• N-linked vs. O-linked glycosylation: why they require completely different fragmentation strategies (HCD vs. ETD/EThcD)• Autonomous Dissociation-type Selection (ADS): how real-time library searching (RTLS) of oxonium ion ratios (m/z 138 vs. 144) enables on-the-fly selection of the right fragmentation method for N- vs. O-glycopeptides — published in J. Proteome Research (Sutherland, Veth, Russell et al., 2024)• How XGBoost machine learning outperforms RTLS by classifying ~50 oxonium ions simultaneously, recovering Core 2 O-glycopeptides that the simpler ratio-based method misses• Casanovo Foundation: a transformer-based foundation model for tandem mass spectra and how deep learning is reshaping glycopeptide classification (Sanders et al., arXiv 2025)• LacNAc-ase enabled glycoproteomics: using endo-β-galactosidase (EBG) to "trim" poly-LacNAc chains on N-glycans — uncovering previously undetectable glycoforms (ASMS 2026 presentation)• Cutaneous vs. uveal melanoma: comparing poly-LacNAcylated glycoproteins (including galectin-3 binding partners like CD63, LAMP-2, and basigin) between cell lines — and why uveal melanoma has a ~50% distant metastasis rate vs. ~5% for cutaneous • The future of intelligent data acquisition and real-time mass spectrometry• Candi's parallel world of untargeted metabolomics, coral-algae chemical communication, and GNPS/MassQL — and the surprising overlap with glycoproteomics🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:• Riley Research Group at UW: https://www.riley-research.com/• ADS Paper: Sutherland, Veth, Russell et al., J. Proteome Res. 2024, 23, 5606–5614• Casanovo Foundation: Sanders et al., arXiv 2025• GlyCounter software (Riley Lab, UW)• XGBoost (Chen & Guestrin, UW)• GNPS / MassQL (Dorrestein Lab, UCSD)👥 GUESTS:Jacob H. Russell — PhD Student, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Washington | Riley Research Group | Glycoproteomics | Mass Spectrometry | Machine LearningCo-host: Candice Gokey — PhD Candidate, UC San Diego / San Diego State University | LC-MS/MS Method Development | Untargeted Metabolomics | Coral Reef Holobiont Research🎙️ HOST: David Oliva | @ChromatographyTalk | @Organomation | @SeparationScience collaborator━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with researchers and industry leaders in analytical chemistry, chromatography, and mass spectrometry.#Glycoproteomics #MassSpectrometry #Chromatography #AnalyticalChemistry #MachineLearning #Glycans #Proteomics #Cancer #UVealMelanoma #LCMS #OxoniumIons #ETD #XGBoost #RileyLab #UniversityOfWashington #PodcastScience #Metabolomics```

  • August 10 · 55 min

    Episode 73: How Chromatography Helps Build Better Catalysts | Dr. Madalyn Radlauer (San José State University)

    Chemistry doesn't end when the reaction is finished. In many research labs, chromatography is what allows scientists to understand whether their chemistry actually worked.In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Dr. Madalyn Radlauer, Associate Professor of Chemistry at San José State University, to discuss how her research group combines polymer chemistry, catalysis, and chromatography to answer fundamental questions about catalyst design and reproducibility.We explore how polymer microenvironments influence catalyst performance, why star polymers have become an exciting research area, and how techniques like TLC, silica gel chromatography, gel permeation chromatography (GPC/SEC), and emerging GC-MS methods help guide discoveries in the laboratory.Dr. Radlauer also discusses mentoring undergraduate researchers, the importance of reproducibility in chemistry, and why chromatography is far more than just a purification step—it's a tool for scientific discovery.In this episode:* How polymer-supported catalysts work* Why catalyst microenvironments matter* The role of TLC, column chromatography, SEC, and GPC in research* Developing more reproducible catalytic reactions* Using chromatography to solve research problems* Transitioning from purification to GC-MS analysis* Mentoring undergraduate researchers* The future of polymer-supported catalysisLearn more about Dr. Radlauer and her research🔬 Research Grouphttps://www.sjsu.edu/radlauer/🏛️ San José State University Department of Chemistryhttps://www.sjsu.edu/chemistry/📄 Reproducibility and Autoxidation Publicationhttps://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.5c07532📄 Boyer Lab: Arm-First Star Polymers Using RAFThttps://pubs.rsc.org/py/article-abstract/2/8/1671/355906/Optimizing-the-generation-of-narrow-polydispersity📄 Hawker & Fréchet: Acid and Base Organocatalysts in the Same Pothttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.200502095🎙️ About Concentrating on Chromatography - @ChromatographyTalk Concentrating on Chromatography is a podcast exploring chromatography, sample preparation, mass spectrometry, analytical chemistry, and the scientists advancing laboratory research. Each episode features conversations with researchers, instrument experts, and industry leaders working to solve real-world analytical challenges.Subscribe for new interviews covering chromatography techniques, sample preparation, laboratory innovation, and analytical chemistry.#Chromatography #AnalyticalChemistry #Catalysis #PolymerChemistry #GPC #SEC #GelPermeationChromatography #Research #Chemistry #GCMS #STEM #Laboratory #SciencePodcast #OrganometallicChemistry

  • August 3 · 35 min

    Episode 72: PFAS in Water, Food & Packaging: Michelle Taylor on the "Forever Chemicals" Documentary Series

    In this episode of @ChromatographyTalk , @Organomation General Manager David Oliva sits down with Michelle Taylor, Editor-in-Chief of LabCompare, to go behind the scenes of their groundbreaking two-part documentary series on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The conversation kicks off with a startling revelation: many of the world’s leading PFAS experts have completely stopped eating seafood due to high contamination levels discovered during testing. From there, we dive deep into the technical and regulatory challenges facing today's analytical laboratories.In this episode, we discuss:* The Laboratory Throughput Crisis: Why labs are currently "overwhelmed with samples" and how tiered testing—using single quad instruments for screening before moving to triple quads—is helping to manage capacity without sacrificing sensitivity.* The Battle Against Background Contamination: Why PTFE-free (PFAS-free) laboratory equipment is no longer optional when trying to detect "forever chemicals" at the parts-per-trillion and parts-per-quadrillion levels.* Complex Matrices (Seafood & Packaging): The technical hurdles of analyzing high-lipid samples like fish and the rising demand for migration testing as states like Rhode Island begin to phase out PFAS in food packaging.* Global Regulatory Shifts: A look at the "dual compliance model" required for labs supporting international exporters, especially with the European Union’s stricter enforcement compared to the U.S. monitoring approach.* The "Grand Challenge" of Unknowns: How EPA Method 1621 (Total Organic Fluorine) is helping labs close the mass balance gap and why the next generation of bench chemists must embrace **AI and data science** to manage the massive datasets generated by high-resolution mass spectrometry.* PFAS Destruction vs. Remediation: The promising (and problematic) methods for breaking the carbon-fluorine bond, and why incineration may inadvertently be spreading shorter-chain PFAS into the air.Whether you are a lab manager looking to future-proof your workflow or a chemist navigating the ever-evolving landscape of EPA Method 1633, this episode provides essential insights into the most pressing environmental crisis of our time.Watch the LabCompare Documentary Series:* Part 1: Preparing and Modernizing for Proposed National PFAS Regulations* Part 2: Forever Chemicals Contamination in Food and PackagingResources for PFAS Analysis:* Learn more about PTFE-free sample preparation at Organomation.com: https://www.organomation.com/ptfe-free-nitrogen-evaporators-for-pfas-analysis* Explore more analytical lab resources at LabCompare.com (https://www.labcompare.com)#PFAS #ForeverChemicals #Chromatography #EnvironmentalScience #LabCompare #Organomation #SamplePrep #EPA1633 #AnalyticalChemistry

  • July 27 · 39 min

    Episode 71: In Silico Modeling, 2D-LC & Green Chromatography: Imad Ahmad on the Future of Method Development

    In this episode of ⁨@ChromatographyTalk⁩ , @Organomation General Manager David Oliva sits down with Imad Haidar Ahmad, Scientific Research Director at Amgen leading separations for Discovery Chemistry and Externalization. Imad's career spans Novartis, Merck, and now Amgen, and his research on computer-assisted method development has landed multiple front covers in Analytical Chemistry.We dig into how his group builds retention models from as few as nine lab experiments to map an entire separation landscape — replacing weeks of trial and error with a resolution map you can query and rebuild from. Imad breaks down where this modeling approach struggles (large molecules, SFC, fully autonomous method development), walks through two-dimensional liquid chromatography in plain terms for anyone who's only worked in 1D, and shares the story behind his group's greenness-score mapping work — including where swapping acetonitrile for methanol worked, and where it didn't.We also talk career advice: what a typical day looks like leading a discovery-stage separations team, how undergrad and grad students can bridge the academia-to-industry gap, and what Imad sees as the field's biggest unsolved problem.Topics covered:- 00:00 – Imad's background: polymer analysis, a postdoc with Peter Carr, and the path through Novartis, Merck, and Amgen- 02:00 – How an undergrad project analyzing bread sparked a career in analytical chemistry- 06:00 – A day in the life leading a discovery-stage separations team- 08:00 – Advice for students bridging academia and industry- 12:00 – In silico modeling explained: how nine experiments can map a full separation- 14:00 – Reading a resolution map- 16:00 – Why trial-and-error gets risky at late-stage development- 20:00 – Where modeling breaks down: large molecules, SFC, and the case for autonomous method development- 24:00 – Two-dimensional LC, explained for anyone who's only run 1D- 27:00 – Why 2D-LC adoption has been slow — and what's changing- 29:00 – Mapping analytical greenness across the separation space- 32:00 – Acetonitrile vs. methanol: balancing green chemistry with performance- 35:00 – Advice for students: don't treat HPLC as a black box- 37:00 – The biggest unsolved problem in separation scienceConnect with Imad Haidar Ahmad: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imadhaidarahmad 🎧 Listen to Concentrating on Chromatography on Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL?si=n9GLz9zjSCOrVfXPxFPhng🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on chromatography, sample prep, and analytical chemistry.#chromatography #AnalyticalChemistry #HPLC #2DLC #MethodDevelopment #GreenChemistry #Pharma

  • July 20 · 23 min

    Episode 70: AIMS vs. LC-MS for Cancer Diagnostics: ccRCC Metabolomics with Rachel Wood | Queen's University

    What if you could assess a tumor's metastatic potential — without extensive sample prep — directly from tissue? Rachel Wood is working on exactly that.Rachel Wood is a PhD candidate at Queen's University (Kingston, Ontario), working jointly in the labs of Dr. Richard Oleschuk (Chemistry) and Dr. Chris Nicoll (Pathology & Molecular Medicine). Her research applies Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry — specifically the Liquid Microjunction Surface Sampling Probe (LMJ-SSP) and Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) — to profile the metabolomics of non-metastatic and metastatic clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) cell lines. The long-term goal: a rapid, minimally invasive MS-based prognostic tool for kidney cancer.This is the first reported use of LMJ-SSP to assess metastatic status in ccRCC — and early PCA results are already showing distinct separation between cell line profiles.In this episode, David and Rachel cover:→ Why ccRCC is such a resistant biomarker problem despite active genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic research→ The clinical stakes of "diagnosed by accident" — and what a prognostic biomarker actually needs to do for a clinician→ How AIMS complements (not replaces) LC-MS in a discovery-phase cancer workflow→ LMJ-SSP vs. DESI: what each technique sees that the other misses, including spatial resolution differences (~1mm vs. ~50µm)→ Why Rachel runs LMJ-SSP on both a triple quad and a Q-TOF — and what each instrument contributes to the same research question→ How her lab repurposed a 3D printer as a custom automated XYZ sampling stage with 50µm movement precision→ Managing high-dimensional metabolomics data across two polarities, two cell lines, and two mass analyzers — the pipeline explained→ What unsupervised machine learning (PCA) showed in early results→ The path from cell lines to excised tumor tissue to, ultimately, liquid biopsies→ Advice for analytical chemists considering work at the chemistry–oncology interface🔗 CONNECT WITH RACHEL WOODLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-wood-7b64492a2/Queen's University – Oleschuk Lab: https://oleschuklab.ca/📬 CONCENTRATING ON CHROMATOGRAPHYWebsite: https://concentratingonchromatography.com/Organomation: https://www.organomation.com🔬 ABOUT ORGANOMATIONOrganomation manufactures nitrogen blowdown evaporators, nitrogen generators, and sample concentration instruments for analytical laboratories worldwide#MassSpectrometry #AmbientIonization #Metabolomics #KidneyCancer #ccRCC #DESI #AIMS #CancerResearch #AnalyticalChemistry #Chromatography #Biomarkers #LiquidBiopsy #ReanalCellCarcinoma #MachineLearning #PCA #LabScience #GradSchool #Queen'sUniversity #Oncology #SamplePreparation

  • July 13 · 45 min

    Episode 69: Droplet Cyclic Ion Mobility Mass Spec: Compressing Months of Enzyme Screening Into Just 14 Hours!

    What if you could compress 179 days of grueling laboratory workflow into just 14 hours?In this episode of @ChromatographyTalk , @Organomation General Manager David Oliva sits down with analytical chemist Laura Penabad to discuss her groundbreaking new research in biocatalysis and high-throughput screening. Evolving engineered enzymes typically requires checking thousands of variants—a massive bottleneck when traditional Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) runs take minutes per sample. Laura reveals how her team built a modular screening platform that shatters this limitation, running samples 128 times faster than standard methods without sacrificing analytical accuracy.Laura breaks down the "orchestra" of technologies making this possible, including coupling nanoliter droplet microfluidics with Cyclic Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry (cIM-MS) to separate complex chemical isomers in milliseconds. She also shares the chaotic but triumphant behind-the-scenes stories of her PhD journey—from presenting a "comically bad" early poster at ASMS to recruiting an undergraduate mechanical engineer to build custom automation software from scratch.If you are an early-career researcher, a mass spec enthusiast, or curious about the future of synthetic biology and machine learning in chemistry, this episode is packed with invaluable intuition and advice.#MassSpectrometry #AnalyticalChemistry #Chromatography #Biocatalysis #DirectedEvolution #IonMobility #PhDJourney #LabAutomation #WomenInSTEM #SyntheticBiology

  • July 6 · 59 min

    Episode 68: Peak Fitting, Deconvolution & AI in Chromatography

    Chromatography software hasn't fundamentally changed in decades — but the peaks it's trying to measure have gotten a lot harder to solve. In this episode of @ChromatographyTalk I sit down with Ron Brown, creator of PeakFit and PeakLab, and returning guest Dr. M. Farooq Wahab, analytical chemist and research engineering scientist at the University of Texas at Arlington, to dig into the real science (and art) of peak modeling.We cover why baseline subtraction and denoising matter before you ever touch a peak model, the difference between true mathematical deconvolution and the "deconvolution" most chromatographers mean when they say it, and why mass balance is the line between a valid peak model and bad science. Ron walks through the historical roots of peak modeling going back over a century, and explains how his HVL and generalized moment models build on pioneers whose work rarely gets the recognition it deserves.We also get into resolving completely co-eluting peaks using 3D PDA/DAD data, multivariate curve resolution, and derivative-based zero-crossing methods — techniques that go well beyond what a single chromatographic dimension can tell you. And we close with a candid conversation about generative AI's growing role in analytical chemistry: where it genuinely accelerates good science, where it's eroding foundational skills in newer chemists, and why Farooq argues AI is only as useful as the prepared mind using it.In this episode:- What peak modeling actually solves that chromatography alone can't- Why baseline correction and denoising come before any modeling step- The historical origins of peak fitting, from Carl Clarison to Van der Linden- True deconvolution vs. what the field commonly (and incorrectly) calls deconvolution- Why mass balance is non-negotiable in a valid peak model- Using the F-statistic and information criteria to choose the right model complexity- Resolving fully co-eluting peaks with 3D spectral data and MCR-ALS- Generative AI's expanding role in chromatographic data processing — and its risks for early-career scientistsAbout our guests:Ronald E. Brown is a chemical engineer trained at Purdue University with 36 years of experience developing chromatography and spectroscopy peak modeling software. He is the sole developer of PeakFit and PeakLab, used by spectroscopists, chromatographers, and defense researchers worldwide. His paper on detecting outliers in nonlinear regression using the false discovery rate has been cited more than 1,950 times.Dr. M. Farooq Wahab is an analytical chemist and research engineering scientist at the University of Texas at Arlington. He earned his PhD from the University of Alberta and focuses his research on data processing, non-linear denoising, deconvolution, and generative AI applications in analytical chemistry.🎧 Listen to more episodes of Concentrating on Chromatography: https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL?si=n9GLz9zjSCOrVfXPxFPhng🔗 Learn more about Organomation's nitrogen blowdown evaporators and sample prep instruments: https://www.organomation.com/#Chromatography #PeakFitting #AnalyticalChemistry #MassSpectrometry #Deconvolution #ChemometricsAI #HPLC #LabScience

  • June 29 · 35 min

    Episode 67: Is Your Lab Sitting on a Data Goldmine? AI, Deep Learning, & Mass Spectrometry with mzio

    Welcome back to another episode of Concentrating on Chromatography! In this episode of @ChromatographyTalk host David Oliva sits down with Dr. Ansgar Korf, CEO and Co-Founder of mzio GmbH, to explore how their vendor-agnostic platform is fundamentally changing how researchers and industrial users extract value from complex mass spectrometry data.Historically rooted in the open-source academic community as mzmine, Bremen-based mzio has evolved into a powerhouse for multimodal data analysis—spanning LC-MS, GC-MS, ion mobility MS, and MS-imaging. Ansgar pulls back the curtain on how laboratories can break free from proprietary vendor software stacks to streamline workflows across mixed-instrument fleets.We dive deep into their massive announcements from ASMS 2026, including FAIR-MS—an AI-powered initiative utilizing deep learning embeddings to automatically search and match new measurements against archived, historical data sets. We also break down the LIMMIC calibration project, their new small molecule and lipidomics dashboards, and how AI agents will shape the next 5 years of automated, real-time MS data acquisition.Whether you are an industry veteran or an early-career chemist, this episode is packed with insights on avoiding the "black box" of automated analysis while unleashing the true power of your lab's data.Mass Spectrometry, Chromatography, mzio, mzmine, FAIR-MS, LIMMIC, Lipidomics, Metabolomics, Open-Source Science, Analytical Chemistry, AI in Chemistry, Deep Learning, LC-MS, GC-MS, PFAS Analysis, Vendor-Agnostic Software, ASMS 2026

  • June 22 · 33 min

    Episode 66: Why Sustainable Labs Save Money: James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab

    Can sustainability actually make laboratories more efficient—and more profitable?In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, @Organomation General Manager David Oliva sits down with James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab, to discuss how a grassroots movement founded by scientists evolved into the leading global organization for laboratory sustainability.James explains why sustainability is no longer just a "nice-to-have" initiative, how major pharmaceutical companies and funding organizations are driving change, and why laboratory suppliers and instrument manufacturers are becoming increasingly important in helping scientists achieve their environmental goals.Topics include:🔬 How My Green Lab grew from an academic movement into a global standard💰 Why sustainable laboratories often deliver significant financial ROI🏭 The changing role of laboratory equipment manufacturers and suppliers📊 What Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions actually mean♻️ The ACT Eco Label and sustainable product design⚡ Renewable energy, recycled materials, and resilient supply chains🤖 AI-powered predictive maintenance and smart laboratory technologies🗑️ Emerging innovations in laboratory waste management🌎 Why sustainability is becoming a business imperative across life sciences🎓 The My Green Lab Ambassador and Accredited Professional programsWhether you're an analytical chemist, laboratory manager, instrument manufacturer, or simply interested in the future of scientific research, this episode provides practical insights into how sustainability is transforming laboratories around the world. Subscribe to @ChromatographyTalk for more conversations with leaders in chromatography, mass spectrometry, sample preparation, and analytical science.#Sustainability #GreenLab #MyGreenLab #LaboratoryScience #Chromatography #MassSpectrometry #AnalyticalChemistry #LifeSciences #ESG #SciencePodcast

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