<p><strong>Labs&nbsp;that rely on helium gas are&nbsp;facing a major crisis…unless they have LECO instruments.&nbsp;Due to the military conflict in the Middle East, Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City,&nbsp;the world’s largest helium production hub, providing one-third of the world’s helium,&nbsp;has&nbsp;shut down operations.&nbsp;To make matters worse,&nbsp;the Strait of Hormuz,&nbsp;the shipping lane used to&nbsp;export helium, has also been closed,&nbsp;meaning&nbsp;even pre-filled helium containers are stuck&nbsp;with&nbsp;no&nbsp;viable&nbsp;route to customers.&nbsp;Naturally,&nbsp;the price&nbsp;of helium has now risen&nbsp;dramatically;&nbsp;most spot prices have doubled.&nbsp;A&nbsp;critical&nbsp;scarcity&nbsp;issue&nbsp;is looming as&nbsp;the world must now&nbsp;operate&nbsp;on&nbsp;roughly 5.2&nbsp;million cubic meters&nbsp;per&nbsp;month&nbsp;less of helium.&nbsp;</strong></p><h3><strong>Why Helium&nbsp;Cost and Supply&nbsp;Matters&nbsp;to Labs</strong>&nbsp;</h3><p>Although many people may recognize helium&nbsp;as the gas that fills party balloons,&nbsp;it&nbsp;plays a&nbsp;critical&nbsp;role in much&nbsp;more serious&nbsp;matters.&nbsp;Helium&nbsp;has&nbsp;unique properties, like an extremely low boiling point, inertness, and high thermal conductivity, which&nbsp;makes&nbsp;it indispensable in several high-tech applications.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>For example, research labs&nbsp;may use helium as a&nbsp;carrier&nbsp;gas&nbsp;when performing&nbsp;elemental analyses or&nbsp;gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which is used&nbsp;to&nbsp;separate and&nbsp;identify&nbsp;chemical compounds in samples.&nbsp;But research labs&nbsp;are&nbsp;often&nbsp;government-funded and run under strict budgets,&nbsp;so&nbsp;the price hike&nbsp;on&nbsp;helium could&nbsp;mean labs have to&nbsp;pause&nbsp;their research until everything falls back&nbsp;under control,&nbsp;which could be months or longer.&nbsp;Even well-funded labs could suffer if the supply is simply too stretched to&nbsp;equip&nbsp;the lab with&nbsp;what&nbsp;they need, as medical uses are given top priority.&nbsp;This could have a serious impact on accuracy and compliance with regulated methods.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h3><strong>The Consequences&nbsp;Reach Farther</strong>&nbsp;</h3><p>When helium becomes unavailable or prohibitively expensive, the ripple effects are immediate and far-reaching. It affects more than&nbsp;just&nbsp;balloons and research labs:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>Delayed Medical Diagnostics</strong>: MRI machines, which rely on helium to cool their superconducting magnets, may be taken offline, delaying critical scans.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Semiconductor Bottlenecks</strong>: Chip shortages could worsen,&nbsp;impacting&nbsp;everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and AI infrastructure.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Industrial Disruption</strong>: Welding, aerospace, and fiber optics manufacturing&nbsp;face rising costs and potential production halts.&nbsp;</li></ul><h3><strong>LECO’s Solution: Instruments That&nbsp;Don’t&nbsp;Rely on Helium&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h3><p>Amidst this pending&nbsp;crisis, LECO offers a practical and forward-thinking solution.&nbsp;This marks the 5<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;major helium supply crisis since 2006,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;likely there will be more after this. Helium&nbsp;supply is concentrated&nbsp;to&nbsp;just a few regions, meaning that any time there is a disruption to one of these, it can create a large effect on the industry.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;why we designed our innovative analytical instruments&nbsp;to&nbsp;operate&nbsp;using alternative carrier gases.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Depending on the instrument, alternative gases&nbsp;such as nitrogen,<strong>&nbsp;</strong>argon,&nbsp;or hydrogen may be used in place of helium. These gases are&nbsp;abundant, cost-effective, and&nbsp;less prone&nbsp;to the geopolitical volatility that plagues helium supply chains.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>LECO’s helium-free&nbsp;options&nbsp;ensure that operations stay online, efficient, and future-proof&nbsp;in a world where helium is becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.&nbsp;This flexibility is no longer a luxury—it’s&nbsp;a necessity.&nbsp;If your lab or facility is feeling the pressure of helium scarcity, now is the time to explore alternatives.&nbsp;This&nbsp;isn’t&nbsp;the first helium shortage, and it&nbsp;won’t&nbsp;be the last.&nbsp;Is your lab prepared?</p><h3><strong>LECO Instruments Supporting Non-Helium Carrier Gases</strong>&nbsp;</h3><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/36"><strong>Pegasus BT</strong></a> (Bench-Top GC–TOFMS, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/37"><strong>incl. BT 4D</strong></a>)</h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Helium or Hydrogen</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>Supports H₂ as GC carrier with a retrofit kit for safety. Performance on hydrogen is on par with helium – the Pegasus BT series meets its full sensitivity specs with either gas.</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <i>“</i><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/PEGBT_TEA_TREE_ESSENTIAL_OIL_HYDROGEN_CARRIER_GAS_203_821_651_95c7a05807/PEGBT_TEA_TREE_ESSENTIAL_OIL_HYDROGEN_CARRIER_GAS_203-821-651.pdf"><i><strong>A Rapid, Robust and Sensitive Analysis of Tea Tree Essential Oil Quality by GC-TOFMS with Hydrogen as Carrier Gas</strong></i></a><i>”</i></li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_Pegasus_BT_2_bc8a8d0505.jpg" alt="LECO: Pegasus BT" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_Pegasus_BT_2_bc8a8d0505.jpg 238w," sizes="100vw" width="932" height="612"></p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/1097"><strong>Pegasus BTX</strong></a><strong> </strong>(Next-gen BT, incl. BTX 4D)</h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Helium or Hydrogen</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>Designed for seamless helium-to-hydrogen use. The Pegasus BTX series maintains trace-level sensitivity with either helium or hydrogen carrier gas, a rare capability in GC–MS. No hardware changes needed beyond standard setup.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/PEGBTX_GINGER_OIL_HYDROGEN_CARRIER_GAS_203_821_694_1685d36546.pdf"><i><strong>“Ginger Oil Analysis and Grade Differentiation with Pegasus BTX Using Hydrogen Carrier Gas”</strong></i></a></li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_LECO_PEGASUS_BTX_GC_TOFMS_cover_image_34704e689d.jpg" alt="LECO: Pegasus BTX" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_LECO_PEGASUS_BTX_GC_TOFMS_cover_image_34704e689d.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="416" height="276"></p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/38"><strong>Pegasus&nbsp;HRT</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong>(High-Resolution TOF-MS,<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/39"> incl. 4D</a>)</h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Helium or Hydrogen</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>High-resolution GC–TOFMS systems support H₂ as a carrier gas as well as He.&nbsp;<strong>Note:</strong>&nbsp;Strict safety protocols apply due to&nbsp;hydrogen’s&nbsp;flammability. Hydrogen use is not recommended in instruments/configurations where gas could accumulate (e.g.&nbsp;very long, vertical&nbsp;flight tubes), but LECO’s HRT instruments&nbsp;utilize&nbsp;Folded Flight Path technology, which&nbsp;eliminates&nbsp;this concern.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/GC_MS_Analysis_Hydrogen_Carrier_Gas_MMS_Ion_Source_HRT_G_Cx_GC_TOFMS_SA_ASMS_23_LPSS_310_6247a1baaf/GC-MS_Analysis_Hydrogen_Carrier_Gas_MMS_Ion_Source_HRT-GCxGC-TOFMS_SA_ASMS23_LPSS-310.pdf"><i><strong>“GC–MS Analysis with Hydrogen Carrier Gas on GC×GC-HRTOFMS (MMS Ion Source)”</strong></i></a></li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_Pegasus_GC_HRT_831fcb6d1e.jpg" alt="LECO: Pegasus&nbsp;HRT" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_Pegasus_GC_HRT_831fcb6d1e.jpg 226w," sizes="100vw" width="3600" height="2487"></p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1884"><strong>LECO 828 Series</strong></a> (Nitrogen/Protein/Carbon/Hydrogen)</h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Helium or Argon&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>The LECO 828 Series&nbsp;supports&nbsp;argon as an alternative&nbsp;carrier gas&nbsp;to helium. Helium provides higher TCD sensitivity (important for low-N samples),&nbsp;whereas&nbsp;argon operation raises the nitrogen detection limit and slightly reduces low-range precision. Switching gas type simply requires updating the method and flow settings (no hardware change&nbsp;required).</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.leco.com/documents/203-821-665/?_gl=1*1d6stb6*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTMwMjg4MTUxNC4xNzc2MTAzOTU0*_ga_K8NYKVEKHY*czE3NzYxMDM5NTQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzYxMDM5NTQkajYwJGwwJGg0NTY2NjUwNjk.*_ga_KRDSR1XM7X*czE3NzYxMDM5NTQkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzYxMDM5NTQkajYwJGwwJGgw"><i><strong>“Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen in Biomass using CHN828”</strong></i></a>&nbsp;</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_rada_828_Makroanalyza_spalovanim_pro_analyzator_uhliku_vodiku_dusiku_a_bilkovin_e86acd897e.jpg" alt="LECO 828 Series" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_rada_828_Makroanalyza_spalovanim_pro_analyzator_uhliku_vodiku_dusiku_a_bilkovin_e86acd897e.jpg 137w," sizes="100vw" width="454" height="516"></p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1885"><strong>LECO 928 Series</strong></a> (Nitrogen/Protein/Carbon/Sulfur)</h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Helium or Argon&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>The LECO&nbsp;928 Series&nbsp;also&nbsp;supports&nbsp;argon carrier gas as an alternative to helium. Helium use gives the best sensitivity and lowest detection limits for nitrogen, while argon use increases analysis time slightly and raises the nitrogen detection limit (due to the smaller thermal conductivity difference). The 928-series instruments have built-in&nbsp;settings for either gas; when switching, users adjust flow&nbsp;and select&nbsp;the appropriate carrier gas&nbsp;in the system settings. Users also have the option to select&nbsp;a larger aliquot loop&nbsp;in the analysis method&nbsp;to improve&nbsp;precision.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CN_928_CN_CARBON_BLACK_GRAPHITE_203_821_684_c2224fa8be.pdf"><i><strong>“Determination of Carbon and Nitrogen in Carbon Black and Graphite”</strong></i></a></li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_rada_928_Stanoveni_makrohodnot_pomoci_spalovani_3_74de99f8e5.jpg" alt="LECO 928 Series" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_rada_928_Stanoveni_makrohodnot_pomoci_spalovani_3_74de99f8e5.jpg 216w," sizes="100vw" width="711" height="513"></p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1880"><strong>736</strong></a><strong>/</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1882"><strong>836</strong></a><strong> Series</strong>&nbsp;(Inert Gas Fusion O<sub>2</sub>/N<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;/H<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;&nbsp;analyzers)</h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Helium or Argon&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>LECO’s inert gas fusion analyzers for oxygen and nitrogen in inorganic materials (e.g.&nbsp;models ON736, ON836) traditionally use helium as the carrier for the TCD measuring N<sub>2</sub>. These systems can run on argon as well, provided the appropriate He/Ar&nbsp;dual-purpose TCD is installed. Switching from He to&nbsp;Ar&nbsp;in these instruments is a one-time setup change;&nbsp;both gases are supported in the software (selectable “Gas Type” setting).&nbsp;When using argon, the furnace runs hotter&nbsp;and produces more soot, so maintenance (filter changes, cleaning)&nbsp;becomes more frequent.&nbsp;Low-level nitrogen precision is also slightly&nbsp;lessened&nbsp;with argon.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ONH_836_O_N_H_IRON_STEEL_NICKEL_COBALT_ALLOYS_COMPARISON_203_821_601_3c9836f4b4.pdf"><i><strong>“Determination of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen in Iron, Steel, Nickel-base, and Cobalt-base Alloys: Comparison of Analytical Performance Between Argon and Helium Carrier”&nbsp;</strong></i></a></li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_rada_736_Analyza_kysliku_a_dusiku_roztavenim_vzorku_v_inertnim_plynu_3_0ec033bbbb.jpg" alt="LECO 736 Series" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_rada_736_Analyza_kysliku_a_dusiku_roztavenim_vzorku_v_inertnim_plynu_3_0ec033bbbb.jpg 151w," sizes="100vw" width="825" height="852"></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_rada_836_Analyza_prvku_pro_detekci_kysliku_dusiku_a_vodiku_5_8011397ce6.jpg" alt="LECO 836 Series" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_rada_836_Analyza_prvku_pro_detekci_kysliku_dusiku_a_vodiku_5_8011397ce6.jpg 134w," sizes="100vw" width="657" height="764"></p><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1850"><strong>DH603&nbsp;Hydrogen Determinator</strong></a></h4><ul><li><strong>Supported Carrier Gases:</strong> Nitrogen (carrier), Helium (calibration gas)&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Notes on Usage / Limitations: </strong>The DH603 measures diffusible and residual hydrogen in metals by hot extraction. It does&nbsp;<i>not use helium as a carrier&nbsp;</i>during analysis—instead&nbsp;it uses nitrogen as the purge/carrier gas in the TCD system. A small helium dose is used only for calibration and system checks (to introduce a known H<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;quantity via He-H<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;mix). In routine operation, the furnace is purged with N<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;and any hydrogen released from the sample is carried to a TCD that&nbsp;references against&nbsp;the nitrogen background. This design avoids flammable gas in the instrument entirely.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>App Note:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/DH_603_H_STEEL_SAMPLES_203_821_376_68e63cfea2.pdf"><i><strong>“Hydrogen Determination in Steel Samples Using DH603”&nbsp;</strong></i></a></li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_DH_603_Stanoveni_zbytkoveho_a_difuzniho_vodiku_horkou_extrakci_d968c7c42b.jpg" alt="LECO: DH603&nbsp;Hydrogen Determinator" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_DH_603_Stanoveni_zbytkoveho_a_difuzniho_vodiku_horkou_extrakci_d968c7c42b.jpg 237w," sizes="100vw" width="1325" height="875"></p>

As Helium Prices Rise and Supply Shrinks, LECO Customers Have Reliable Alternatives

<p><strong>Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 13th April 2026? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!</strong></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:20px;">👉 </span><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library"><span style="font-size:20px;"><strong>SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><blockquote><p><strong>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques?</strong> Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library"><strong>LabRulezLCMS</strong></a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library"><strong>LabRulezGCMS</strong></a> libraries.</p></blockquote><p>This week we bring you application notes by <strong>Metrohm,</strong> <strong>Shimadzu and Waters Corporation</strong> and other document by<strong>Thermo Fisher Scientific!</strong></p><h3><strong>1. Metrohm: Dried pet food analysis by nearinfrared spectroscopy (NIRS)</strong></h3><p><strong>Rapid determination of moisture, protein, fat, and ash</strong></p><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_nir_129_download_9ff310dbb5.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>Pet food testing involves accurate monitoring and control of moisture, protein, fat, and ash content. This allows pet food manufacturers to satisfy nutritional adequacy requirements, meet regulatory guidelines, and provide high-quality foods to pet owners. Traditional analysis methods are often slow and laborintensive. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy provides a fast, nondestructive alternative for analyzing these key quality control parameters with minimal sample preparation. This study evaluates the use of NIR spectroscopy in the pet food industry for efficient and reliable quality control during dried pet food production.</p><h4><strong>EXPERIMENTAL EQUIPMENT&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>199 dried pet food samples (mainly dog and cat food) from different suppliers were analyzed in whole and ground forms on an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=220&amp;search=OMNIS+NIR"><strong>OMNIS NIR Analyzer</strong></a> Solid (Figure 1). The samples were added to an OMNIS sample cup and analyzed in diffuse reflection mode. To include sample variety, the sample rotated during measurement to collect spectra from different locations. The automatically averaged spectra were used for model development. Reference values were obtained by official methods such as ISO 6496 (moisture), ISO 5983 (protein), ISO 5984 (ash), and ISO 6492 (fat).</p><h4><strong>CONCLUSION</strong></h4><p>This Application Note demonstrates the feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy for the analysis of several pet food quality parameters, including protein, moisture, fat, and ash. Results indicate that lower prediction errors can be obtained when grinding pet food samples before their analysis. A comparison between different methods used for the analysis of pet food clearly highlights the significant time-saving potential of NIR spectroscopy (Table 1). Furthermore, the simplicity of the analysis and the availability of a pre-calibrated instrument, using the pre-calibration, dry pet food, solid (6.06008.027), make both the implementation and the application of NIR spectroscopy with OMNIS NIRS straightforward.</p><h3><strong>2. Shimadzu: Determination of Elemental Impurities in Bioethanol Using ICP-MS</strong></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_01021_en_942f8087b2.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><h4><strong>User Benefits</strong></h4><ul><li>Bioethanol samples can be directly injected into ICP-MS for analysis.</li><li>Trace elements can be accurately determined with high sensitivity.</li></ul><p>To achieve carbon neutrality, bioethanol is expected to be one of the alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. First-generation bioethanol, produced mainly from corn, sugarcane, and similar crops, has been widely used. However, to avoid competition with food supplies, research and development are also advancing on second-generation bioethanol produced from non-food raw materials such as cellulosic materials. For example in Japan, seven companies including Toyota Motor Corporation have formed the raBit (Research Association of Biomass Innovation for Next Generation Automobile Fuels) to advance technologies for next-generation bioethanol. Shimadzu is also participating as a supporting member to promote R&amp;D through technical cooperation for analysis.&nbsp;</p><p>Fuels in which bioethanol is blended into gasoline are referred to as E5 (up to 5% bioethanol), E10 (up to 10% bioethanol), etc.; using these fuels in vehicles can reduce environmental impact. At the same time, ethanol blended into gasoline and used as a fuel is required to meet trace element concentration limits (e.g., for copper) specified in standards such as ASTM D48061) and EN 153762). ICP-OES is commonly used for these analyses, but when ultra-trace impurity levels must be measured, higher-sensitivity ICP-MS is more suitable.&nbsp;</p><p>In this Application, trace elements in first-generation and second-generation bioethanol were determined using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPMS-2050"><strong>ICPMS-2050</strong></a> (Fig. 1). Spike recoveries were also evaluated to confirm the validity of the analytical results.</p><h4><strong>Conclusion</strong></h4><p>In this Application, bioethanol was introduced directly into the ICPMS-2050 using an organic solvent introduction system to determine trace elements. Good spike recoveries were obtained, demonstrating that bioethanol can be analyzed accurately by direct injection.</p><h3><strong>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2364"><strong>Thermo Scientific™ Nicolet™ FTIR</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2239"><strong>Thermo Scientific™ DXR Raman Microscope</strong></a><strong> Solutions</strong></h3><ul><li>Other document</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/FL_52919_microspectroscopy_portfolio_flyer_516ee05816.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>Microspectroscopy has become an essential tool in modern analytical laboratories, enabling detailed chemical identification and spatial analysis at the microscale. Whether working in pharmaceuticals, materials science, forensics, or electronics, selecting the right combination of FTIR or Raman microscopy is critical for achieving accurate and efficient results.</p><p>Thermo Scientific offers a comprehensive portfolio of FTIR and Raman microscope solutions designed to match different analytical needs, user expertise levels, and throughput requirements. From routine QA/QC to advanced research applications, these systems provide scalable solutions for a wide range of analytical challenges .</p><h4><strong>Matching the Right Tool to Your Application</strong></h4><p>The portfolio is structured to help users “find their best fit” based on analytical complexity, required spatial resolution, and workflow demands. Entry-level configurations, such as the <strong>SurveyIR™ microspectroscopy accessory combined with Nicolet FTIR spectrometers</strong>, are ideal for routine identification tasks in QA/QC environments.</p><p>As analytical needs increase, systems such as the <strong>Nicolet iN5 IR microscope with </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2364"><strong>Nicolet iS20 FTIR</strong></a> offer improved spatial resolution and flexibility for more frequent analyses. These solutions are particularly suitable for laboratories performing regular identification of materials with moderate complexity.</p><p>For advanced analytical workflows, integrated systems like the <strong>Nicolet iN10 IR microscope</strong> or <strong>Nicolet RaptIR+™ FTIR microscope</strong> provide enhanced capabilities, including spatial distribution analysis and high-resolution measurements down to the micrometer scale. These systems are designed for analytical service labs and R&amp;D environments where both identification and morphological insights are required.</p><h4><strong>Expanding Capabilities with Raman Microscopy</strong></h4><p>Raman microscopy complements FTIR by enabling high-resolution chemical imaging and analysis of complex samples. Systems such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2239"><strong>DXR3 Raman microscope</strong></a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/2237"><strong>DXR3xi Raman imaging microscope</strong></a> extend analytical capabilities to submicron spatial resolution, making them ideal for advanced research applications.</p><p>These instruments allow users to not only identify compounds but also visualize their spatial distribution and morphology within a sample. This is particularly valuable in fields such as nanomaterials, semiconductors, and life sciences, where detailed structural and compositional information is required.</p><h4><strong>From Identification to Imaging</strong></h4><p>One of the key differentiators across the portfolio is the ability to move from simple identification to comprehensive imaging:</p><ul><li><strong>Single-point analysis</strong> is available across all systems for rapid material identification</li><li><strong>Small-area analysis</strong> enables localized chemical characterization</li><li><strong>Large-area and spatial mapping</strong> provide insights into distribution and heterogeneity</li></ul><p>Higher-end systems, such as imaging microscopes, combine these capabilities with advanced automation and data processing tools, allowing users to efficiently analyze complex samples and extract meaningful insights .</p><h3><strong>4. Waters Corporation: Accurate Particles Characterization in Lipid Nanoparticle Therapies</strong></h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/720009097_en_15af008f22.pdf"><strong>Full PDF for download</strong></a></li></ul><p>Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as one of the most promising drug delivery methods<sup>1</sup>. LNPs encapsulate genetic material in submicrometer sized lipid vesicles, deliver large biologic payloads, exhibit low immunogenicity, and can enable large manufacturing scalability as seen with the Moderna® and Pfizer® mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Like all biologics, LNPs can be physically unstable<sup>2</sup>, aggregate, and form subvisible particles (SVPs), and thus need to be properly formulated and evaluated for physical and chemical stability<sup>3</sup>. The next generation of LNPs are even more chemically and biologically complex than their predecessors<sup>1</sup>, presenting unique challenges in both their stability and manufacturability. Accurate low volume subvisible particle measurements will form a critical aspect of the quality assessment of LNPs.&nbsp;</p><p>Like all injectables, LNPs are subject to USP 787/788 SVP testing<sup>4</sup> . However, USP 788 compendial Method 1, light obscuration (LO), is deemed “unsuitable to measure liposomal and colloidal suspensions” as stated in the chapter. In fact, USP 788 recommends membrane microscopy (Compendial Method 2) for measuring liposomal formulations, given LO’s inability to handle solutions with a complex matrix<sup>4</sup>. Aura uses Backgrounded Membrane Imaging (BMI), a form of membrane microscopy that enables high throughput, low volume subvisible particle characterization. In this application note, we demonstrate how Aura™ GT System can accurately and thoroughly characterize the subvisible particle content of LNPs with volumes as little as 25 µL per sample. We focus on the analysis of two LNP samples formulated in different buffers and subjected temperature and freeze thaw stresses. In addition, we use Aura GT’s SYBR™ Gold assay5 to help characterize nucleic acid escape in stressed LNP samples and quantitatively analyze the stability and purity of these samples.</p><h4><strong>Experimental</strong></h4><h5><strong>Particle Measurements&nbsp;</strong></h5><p>LNP samples were measured using BMI and Fluorescence Membrane Microscopy (FMM) using <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=5&amp;search=aura+gt"><strong>Aura GT </strong></a>on a black membrane plate. This procedure was adapted for each stress condition three wells were loaded with 25uL per well, and the filtrate stained with 1x SYBR Gold (2% v/v DMSO in PBS) for 1 min prior to FMM measurements. This procedure was adapted from Application note 16.5</p><h4><strong>Conclusion&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>Both samples A and B showed significant subvisible particle formation, more than 1x10^6/mL &gt;2 µm across most conditions except thermal stress, pointing to inherently unstable LNP formulations. Freeze thaw cycles significantly increased subvisible particle formation, while heat stress significantly reduced the subvisible particle concentration across both samples. Compared to protein formulations, this heat stress effect may appear unconventional. However, considering the LNP composition and upon further look at the literature, we are able to understand this phenomenon and conclude that significant heat stress can break a liposomal formulation apart3 , increasing the LNP solubility and thereby resulting in less insoluble particles captured on the membrane. On the other hand, freeze thawing produces more insoluble aggregates, thereby increasing subvisible counts as shown in BMI, exhibiting similar behavior to heat induced aggregation as in most protein formulations. A recurring theme in subvisible particle stability is that each formulation exhibits its own particle profile, LNPs are no exception. Another interesting data point is that freeze thawed LNPs showed significant SYBR Gold staining, whereas unstressed LNPs did not, indicating a unique nucleic acid leakage or rupture behavior for this type of stress. Finally, we also observed that buffer type did not significantly impact the subvisible particle count (data not shown). Whilst we observed significant particle counts across all samples tested, pH and buffer variance did not significantly increase particle formation. Indeed, several LNP formulations have reported robust stability profiles across a variety of buffers3 . Filtration of the final product may not be appropriate, as particle formation occurs following filtration, most likely in a concentration dependent manner (Figure 4). Multiple filtration steps, whilst able to clear the product, will undoubtedly result in reduced concentration of pharmacologically active LNPs and as a function of time particles will return as described in our “What Happens When I Filter My Sample” Application Note 21.&nbsp;</p><p>In conclusion, Aura enables high throughput, low volume, accurate sub-visible particle analysis with direct applicability for LNP stability assessment. Arcane particle analysers, unsuitable for LNP assessment, will struggle to overcome the challenges associated with the physical and chemical complexity of LNPs. Indeed, Aura resolved these key challenges, providing a solution to sub-visible particle analysis of LNPs, from early stage inception through to product release.</p>

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 16, 2026

<p><strong>It is our great pleasure to invite you to attend and contribute to the 19th International Symposium on Hyphenated Techniques in Chromatograph and Separation Technology (HTC-19), which will take place from May 26 to 29 in Leuven, Belgium.</strong></p><p>The HTC symposium series started in 1990 and is the ideal meeting place for scientists and practitioners from academia and industry and vendors to discuss and gather new insights in emerging technologies, instrumentation, workflows, and applications. Organized under the auspices of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Ghent University (UGhent), and the Separation Science Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), HTC-19 is expected to gather over 300 participants.</p><h3><strong>Registration</strong></h3><blockquote><p class="cke-user_style-important"><strong>👉</strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.kuleuven.be/register/en/htc-19-19th-international-symposium-on-hyphenated-techniques-in-chromatography-and-separation-technology/step1"><strong>Register HERE</strong></a></p></blockquote><h4><strong>Registration Fee</strong></h4><h5><strong>Regular (From 14 March 2026)</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>Industry / Academic:</strong> € 775</li><li><strong>Student:</strong> € 425</li></ul><h5><strong>Conference dinner / Tasting Event</strong></h5><ul><li>Participants: € 95 / € 50</li><li>Accompanying persons: € 110 / € 60</li></ul><h5><strong>Short courses (CE, GC and GCxGC, NANOLC-MS, 2D-LC)</strong></h5><ul><li>Academic: € 500</li><li>Industry: € 500</li><li>Students: € 350</li></ul><h5><strong>Short course (AI MD Development)</strong></h5><ul><li>Academic: € 250</li><li>Industry: € 250</li><li>Students: € 125</li></ul><h3><strong>Programme</strong></h3><h4><strong>Plenary Spekares</strong></h4><h5><strong>Under pressure: bringing supercritical fluids to multi-dimensional analysis systems</strong></h5><ul><li>Caroline West, Université d’Orléans, France<ul><li>Caroline West is a full professor in analytical chemistry at the University of Orleans, France, where she is teaching separation science. Her main scientific interests lie in fundamentals of chromatographic selectivity, both in the achiral and chiral modes, in SFC and LC. She is also applying these methods, with or without hyphenation to extraction methods and/or MS, to samples of pharmaceutical interest and natural products. She has authored about 120 papers in international peer‐reviewed journals and has presented about 120 lectures in conferences. In 2015, she received the “LC‐GC Emerging Leader in Chromatography” award. She was ranked several times among the most influential people in analytical chemistry by “The Analytical Scientist” magazine (“Top 40 under 40” 2014 &amp; 2018, “The Power List” 2019, 2020 &amp; 2021), received the Jubilee medal from the Chromatographic Society (2021) and JFK Huber Lecture award from the Austrian Society of Analytical Sciences (2025). She is also an advisory board member for several journals in separation science.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Open Science Cheminformatics Resources Supporting Hyphenated Non-target Screening Efforts</strong></h5><ul><li>Emma Schymanski, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg<ul><li>Professor Emma Schymanski is head of the Environmental Cheminformatics (ECI) group, FNR ATTRACT Fellow and special advisor to the rector for Open Science and Research Data Management. She has a double degree in Chemistry/Environmental Engineering from UWA, Perth, completed her PhD at UFZ Leipzig and postdoc at Eawag, Switzerland. Her research combines cheminformatics and computational (high resolution) mass spectrometry approaches to elucidate the unknowns in complex samples, primarily with non-target screening, and relate these to environmental causes of disease. She is involved in many collaborative efforts, with &gt;16,000 citations, &gt;100 publications and a book. An advocate for FAIR and open science, she is involved in several European and worldwide activities to improve the exchange of data, information and ideas between scientists, including the NORMAN Suspect List Exchange, MassBank, MetFrag, PubChemLite for Exposomics, the PubChem PFAS Tree, patRoon, ShinyTPs and the Chemical Stripes.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>The challenges of scale for meaningful environmental research</strong></h5><ul><li>Leon Barron, Imperial College London, United Kingdom<ul><li>Professor Leon Barron leads the Emerging Chemical Contaminants group at Imperial College London. His research aims to further our understanding of complex chemical exposures on environmental and public health. He gained his PhD in 2005 from Dublin City University and in 2009 moved to King’s College London as an academic in Forensic Science until 2020. He moved to Imperial in 2020 and was recently promoted to full professor of Analytical and Environmental Sciences in 2025. He has pioneered several (bio)analytical methodologies especially the development and integration novel passive sampling tools, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods and predictive machine learning for contaminant identification, monitoring and risk assessment. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is the current Chair of its Separation Science Interest Group. His work has been recognised particularly for its large-scale applicability including in national and international monitoring campaigns in partnership with academia, government, industry and the general public.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Hyphenated methods in chromatography: Innovations realised and challenges remaining</strong></h5><ul><li>Hans-Gerd Janssen, Unilever, The Netherlands<ul><li>Prof. Hans-Gerd Janssen obtained his MSc and PhD degree in analytical chemistry from the Eindhoven University of Technology. After having worked at this university for another 8 years as an assistant/associate professor, he moved to Unilever R&amp;D in 1999 and currently holds the position of science leader Food Compositional Analysis. From 2004 to 2019 he was a part-time professor at the University of Amsterdam at the chair ‘(bio-)macromolecular separations’. In 2019 he moved to Wageningen University where he now holds a part-time professor position in ‘recognition-based analytical chemistry’. Prof. Janssen has published more than 230 papers including six patents and seven book chapters. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of several scientific journals. He has been, or is, a member of the board of the Analytical Chemistry division of the Dutch Chemical Society and of the working group Separation Methods. He also is a member of the scientific or organizing committee of several symposia. Prof. Janssen was awarded the 2020 GC×GC scientific achievement award in recognition of his contribution to the field. In 2023 he was awarded the H.J. Dutton Award from the American Oil Chemist’s Society. In his research he focuses on the development of chromatographic methods and theories for the reliable, rapid and automated analysis of complex samples. Much of his work was on edible oils and fats, but also other food related samples including packaging materials and food processing got his attention. More recently his work focusses on food flavour analysis and understanding sensory perception from detailed chemical analysis.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Delicious Science: A Chemical Journey Through the Kitchen</strong></h5><ul><li>Peter Van Broeck, WM-Lightning B.V., Belgium<ul><li>Dr. Peter Van Broeck has more than 30 years of experience in analytical chemistry, process control, and technological innovation within the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Since 2023, he has been Managing Director of WM-Lightning B.V., a consultancy firm specialized in innovation, interim management, and strategic support. He spent a significant part of his career at Johnson &amp; Johnson, where he held leadership roles in Analytical Development and Chemical Process Control. As Scientific Director, he was end-to-end responsible for the analytical strategy within continuous manufacturing, the implementation of Process Analytical Technology (PAT), and the introduction of new analytical technologies. He developed extensive international academic and industry networks and represented the organization in various innovation programs and conferences. Earlier, Dr. Van Broeck led the Chemical Process Control Lab, where he drove the global adoption of PAT. At Amylum NV and BetzDearborn Inc., he focused on analytical method development, laboratory setup, and the introduction of advanced techniques such as HT-GPC, NIR and hyphenated GC and HPLC techniques. He also served as a Guest Professor at Hasselt University, teaching Industrial Chemistry to Business Engineering students. Beyond his scientific career, Dr. Van Broeck has a long-standing passion for wine, gastronomy, and the chemistry of flavor. Building on early academic and R&amp;D experience in food analytics, he actively explores the intersection of taste, chemistry, and sensory experience, and is frequently invited as a speaker on topics such as food pairing and the science of brewing and winemaking.</li></ul></li></ul><h5><strong>Shaken, not stirred – James Bond in the spotlight of physics</strong></h5><ul><li>Metin Tolan, Faculty of Physics, TU Dortmund University, Germany<ul><li><p>Main areas of research: Investigation of the interfacial behavior of so-called “soft matter” (polymers, liquids, biomaterials), phase diagrams and stability of proteins, use of synchrotron radiation for materials research in general and further development of investigation methods, more than 200 publications in refereed journals</p><p>Professional career: Since April 2025: Professor of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, TU Dortmund University 2021–2025: President of Georg August University of Göttingen (on leave from TU Dortmund University) 2008–2020: Vice Rector for Research (3 years), for Studies (5 years), for Finance (4 years) at TU Dortmund University, permanent representative of the Rector 2003: Admitted as a full member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts Since 2001: full professorship (C4) for experimental physics at TU Dortmund University. Chair of Experimental Physics I 1998 – 2001 Habilitation in experimental physics. Lecturer at Christian Albrechts University of Kiel 1994 – 1998: Research stays in the USA at Brookhaven National Laboratory (1994), Exxon Research Laboratories (1994), State University of New York at Stony Brook (1995 and 1998) and Argonne National Laboratory (1996 and 1997) 1990–1993: Research assistant, Institute for Experimental Physics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel. Doctorate in physics (dissertation: “X-ray scattering on laterally structured surfaces – experiment and theory”) 1984–1989: Studied physics with a minor in mathematics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel. Diploma in mathematical physics<br>Awards: 2024 Culture Prize of the Eduard Rhein Foundation 2018 Awarded the Badge of Honor of the German Physical Society 2017 Robert Wichard Pohl Prize of the German Physical Society for outstanding contributions to physics 2013 Communicator Prize of the DFG and the Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaft 2010 Awarded the Silver Badge of Honor for special services to the DESY Research Center in Hamburg 2010 Professor of the Year elected by magazine “UNICUM Beruf” in the field of natural sciences and medicine</p><p>Popular Books: 5 books published, among them “Shaken, not stirred! – James Bond in the Spotlight of Physics” Springer (2020) (in German: “Geschüttelt, nicht gerührt! – James Bond im Visier der Physik”, Piper 2008)</p></li></ul></li></ul>

Plenary speakers at the 19th International Symposium on Hyphenated Techniques in Chromatography and Separation Technology (HTC-19)

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The HTC symposium series started in 1990 and is the ideal meeting place for scientists and practitioners from academia and industry and vendors to discuss and gather new insights in emerging technologies, instrumentation, workflows, and applications. Organized under the auspices of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Ghent University (UGhent), and the Separation Science Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), HTC-19 is expected to gather over 300 participants.

International Symposium on Hyphenated Techniques in Chromatography and Separation Technology

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Plenary speakers at the 19th International Symposium on Hyphenated Techniques in Chromatography and Separation Technology (HTC-19)

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News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 16, 2026