Concentrating on Chromatography

Episode 62: When One Atom Changes Everything | JC Poutsma on Mass Spectrometry, Proteomics & Gas-Phase Chemistry

What happens when you replace just one atom in an amino acid?In this episode of  @ChromatographyTalk  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCU9oYSK_peqfuCrwpnv4fqA] David sits down with JC Poutsma, Professor of Chemistry at William & Mary, to explore the fascinating world of gas-phase ion chemistry, peptide fragmentation, and the hidden molecular behavior revealed by mass spectrometry.Professor Poutsma explains how subtle structural changes in biomolecules can dramatically alter protein folding, fragmentation pathways, and biological activity. The conversation dives into unusual amino acids like canavanine, the “proline effect” in peptide fragmentation, ion mobility spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and why understanding the fundamentals of chemistry still matters in modern analytical science.Whether you work in LC-MS, proteomics, physical chemistry, or analytical instrumentation—or you simply enjoy learning how molecules behave at the most fundamental level—this episode offers a fascinating look at the chemistry happening behind the spectra.Topics Discussed* What is gas-phase ion chemistry?* How mass spectrometers can function as reaction vessels* Why unusual amino acids matter* The chemistry of canavanine vs arginine* How one atom substitution changes protein behavior* Peptide fragmentation mechanisms in proteomics* The “proline effect” in tandem MS* Ion mobility spectrometry explained* IR spectroscopy for structural characterization* Why understanding analytical fundamentals still matters* Teaching chemistry in the age of AI and automation About the GuestJC Poutsma is a Professor of Chemistry at William & Mary whose research focuses on gas-phase ion chemistry, biomolecular structure, peptide fragmentation, spectroscopy, and the physical chemistry underlying mass spectrometry.#MassSpectrometry #Proteomics #AnalyticalChemistry #LCMS #MassSpec #Chemistry #IonMobility #Spectroscopy #PeptideFragmentation #PhysicalChemistry #ASMS #Chromatography

Episode 61: Why Biologics QC Is So Much Harder Than Small Molecule Pharma | Colette Quinn of Waters

In this episode of  @ChromatographyTalk  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCU9oYSK_peqfuCrwpnv4fqA] David speaks with Colette Quinn, Senior Director within the Biologics Business at Waters Corporation, about the rapidly evolving world of pharmaceutical and biopharma QA/QC.As biologics become more complex, QA/QC labs are being pushed beyond traditional pass/fail testing toward deeper molecular characterization, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision making. Colette explains why “the product is the process” in biologics manufacturing, how chromatography and mass spectrometry are transforming QC workflows, and why orthogonal analytical techniques are becoming increasingly important for understanding critical quality attributes (CQAs).The conversation explores:* Why biologics QC differs fundamentally from small molecule pharma* The growing role of LC, HRMS, MALS, CE, and 2D-LC in QA/QC* Challenges surrounding aggregation, co-elution, heterogeneity, and higher-order structure* How automation, software, and machine learning may reshape future QC labs* The importance of data integrity and standardized workflows* Why advanced techniques like MALS and mass spectrometry are moving downstream into QC environments* How QC teams can think scientifically about adopting new analytical technologiesColette also shares insights on building high-performing analytical teams, the skills needed by the next generation of QC scientists, and where she believes the future of real-time release testing and biologics characterization is headed.Whether you work in chromatography, mass spectrometry, pharmaceutical analysis, biologics development, or analytical chemistry, this episode offers a detailed look at how modern QA/QC is evolving alongside increasingly sophisticated therapeutics.#Chromatography #MassSpec #Biologics #Pharma #Biopharma #QualityControl #QAQC #LCMS #MALS #AnalyticalChemistry #Waters #PharmaceuticalAnalysis #Biotechnology #2DLC #QC #MassSpectrometry

Episode 60: Why Capillary LC Is the Future of LC-MS Sensitivity #chromatography #massspectrometry

What makes capillary LC so powerful—and why are more scientists paying attention to it?In this episode of  @ChromatographyTalk  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCU9oYSK_peqfuCrwpnv4fqA], David sits down with Samuel Foster of Axcend to discuss how capillary liquid chromatography is changing the conversation around LC-MS sensitivity, solvent consumption, instrument footprint, and chromatographic efficiency.Sam explains how lower flow rates can dramatically improve electrospray ionization performance, why capillary LC can reduce solvent usage by orders of magnitude, and where the technology is already making an impact in pharmaceutical, environmental, and radiopharmaceutical workflows.They also discuss common misconceptions about capillary LC, why older systems gave the technology a mixed reputation, and why modern advances may make now the right time for labs to take another look.Topics Covered:* What capillary LC is and how it differs from traditional HPLC* Why lower flow rates improve LC-MS sensitivity* Solvent savings and sustainability benefits* Extra-column effects and hidden performance killers* Applications in pharma, biologics, drugs of abuse, and radiopharmaceuticals* Is capillary LC ready for routine lab adoption?* The future of liquid chromatographyIf you work in LC, LC-MS, analytical chemistry, method development, or lab operations, this episode is packed with practical insight.👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders in analytical science.#Chromatography #HPLC #LCMS #MassSpectrometry #AnalyticalChemistry #PharmaceuticalAnalysis #LabScience #CapillaryLC

Episode 59: The Future of Ion Chromatography | PFAS Testing, EPA 1621 & AOF Explained #analyticalchemistry

How are PFAS regulations changing, and what role will ion chromatography play in the future of environmental testing?In this episode of  @ChromatographyTalk  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCU9oYSK_peqfuCrwpnv4fqA], David interviews Jay Gandhi, PhD, Vertical Markets Manager at Metrohm USA, for an in-depth discussion on PFAS analysis, the rise of AOF (Adsorbable Organic Fluorine) testing, and the development of EPA 1621 and ISO 18127 standards.With more than 30 years of experience in ion chromatography, Jay shares valuable perspective on how the field has evolved—from early applications and NASA water recovery projects to today’s challenges involving PFAS, TFA, and emerging contaminants.Topics covered in this episode include:• What PFAS are and why they matter• The difference between targeted PFAS methods and AOF analysis• How combustion ion chromatography works• Behind the scenes of EPA 1621 and ISO 18127 method development• Regulatory trends in water, textiles, and food packaging• TFA analysis using IC-MS and IC-MS/MS• The future of ion chromatography in environmental labsWhether you work in analytical chemistry, environmental testing, water analysis, or chromatography, this episode offers timely insights from one of the industry’s leading experts.Subscribe for more interviews with scientists, researchers, and industry leaders.#PFAS #Chromatography #IonChromatography #EnvironmentalTesting #Metrohm #AnalyticalChemistry #MassSpectrometry #EPA

Episode 58: How Separation Science Is Taught vs. How It’s Actually Used #nmrspectroscopy #massspectrometry

What do students really learn before they ever touch an analytical instrument? And is chemistry education keeping up with the pace of modern chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation?In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, David speaks with instructor Natasha Le about the realities of teaching chemistry and separation science to today’s students—many of whom are pursuing careers in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and healthcare rather than research.Natasha shares what students struggle with most, why many learners become focused on grades instead of understanding the science, and where the gap exists between textbook chemistry and real-world lab workflows.Topics include:🔹 When students first encounter separation science concepts🔹 Why chromatography is often taught without being labeled as such🔹 The challenge of teaching critical thinking vs. “button pushing”🔹 How mass spectrometry differs in the classroom vs. real labs🔹 Why sample prep skills matter more than students realize🔹 Can universities keep up with rapidly changing analytical technology?🔹 What separates a good chemistry student from a great oneIf you work in chromatography, mass spectrometry, lab education, or are preparing for a career in analytical chemistry, this conversation offers a valuable look at how the next generation is being trained.#Chromatography #MassSpectrometry #AnalyticalChemistry #STEMEducation #HPLC #GCMS #LCMS #ChemistryStudents #SamplePrep #Podcast