<h4><strong>Do you use results of chemical analyses as a basis for your decisions and judgements?</strong></h4><p>Those of us working in accredited laboratories or dealing with issues concerning the quality of measurements, would like to inform you about some important changes concerning the way the results of measurements are presented. These changes make it easier for you as an end-user to make correct decisions.</p><h4><strong>Nobody is perfect!</strong></h4><p>Results of analyses cannot be perfect! We hope this does not come as a big surprise to you. We use the term <strong>measurement uncertainty </strong>to describe this lack of perfection.</p><h4><strong>The analytical process</strong></h4><p>In each step of the analytical work, from sampling to the final measurement, deviations from the true value occur and measurement conditions vary. We take measures and perform controls regularly to assure that these deviations and variations together are small enough to make sure the end result fulfils your requirements. When we don’t have full information about all of the steps, e.g. when sampling and initial sample preparation are performed by you as a customer, you can assist us by providing detailed information about how that work was performed. Our experts are ready to advise on all matters regarding sampling. Please contact the laboratory beforehand.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Important_information_to_our_customers_concerning_the_quality_of_measurements_2_d885f6b051.jpg" alt="Eurachem: The analytical process" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Important_information_to_our_customers_concerning_the_quality_of_measurements_2_d885f6b051.jpg 139w," sizes="100vw" width="562" height="630"></p><h4><strong>Results should be fit-for-the-purpose</strong></h4><p>The accuracy of the results must of course not be too low nor too high since this would increase the costs. It should be fit for the intended purpose. If you are unsure on what level of accuracy you need, do not hesitate to contact the laboratory.</p><h4><strong>Uncertainty and limiting values</strong></h4><p>Many analyses are made to assure that limiting values are not exceeded. Without information about the measurement uncertainty it may appear to be very easy to make decisions, but these decision may be incorrect, with, e.g. economical consequences when rejecting instead of accepting a product, judicial consequences when returning a verdict of guilty instead of not guilty, or medical consequences when carrying out an unnecessary treatment. There are numerous examples!</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Important_information_to_our_customers_concerning_the_quality_of_measurements_3_f0ef8edc77.jpg" alt="Eurachem: Uncertainty and limiting values" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Important_information_to_our_customers_concerning_the_quality_of_measurements_3_f0ef8edc77.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="932" height="453"></p><p>With a realistic measurement uncertainty the information included in the result becomes much more useful.</p><h4><strong>It will be easier to compare results</strong></h4><p>Most laboratories have until now chosen not to state measurement uncertainty in the test report. Instead, such information has only been given when the customer has asked for it</p><p>In the future, information about the measurement uncertainty will appear more frequently in the test report. It is also possible that you will bump into new and unfamiliar quality terms. This is due to the fact that there are new international guides and standards describing a common and partly new terminology. One of the objectives is to make it easier for you as a customer to compare test results.</p><h4><strong>What could it look like?</strong></h4><p>When reporting the test result we will give the normal information about what we have measured. When the results are followed by uncertainty statements, they are presented as intervals within which the true values are expected to lie with a certain level of confidence (usually 95%). In the example below the lead content is 1.65 ± 0.15 mmol·kg-1, that is between 1.50 and 1.80. The measurement uncertainty is also often reported relatively, in %.</p><ul><li><strong>Total lead content (Pb): </strong>1.65 mmol·kg<sup>-1</sup>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Measurement uncertainty:</strong> 0.15 mmol·kg<sup>-1</sup> (9.1%)&nbsp;</li></ul><p>The stated uncertainty is an expanded measurement uncertainty (<i>U</i>). It was obtained by multiplying the combined standard uncertainty <i>u<sub>c</sub></i> with a coverage factor <i>k</i> equal to 2. This corresponds approximately to a 95 % confidence interval.</p><h4><strong>All’s well that ends well...</strong></h4><p>The requirements for a consistent way of reporting test results are increasing. Therefore, those of us involved in measurements are eager to assure ourselves that we understand your needs. You will notice this in your contacts with us before, during and after the test assignment. We hope that you will be satisfied with the final result.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Important_information_to_our_customers_concerning_the_quality_of_measurements_4_f870b1a7b8.jpg" alt="Eurachem: All’s well that ends well..." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Important_information_to_our_customers_concerning_the_quality_of_measurements_4_f870b1a7b8.jpg 159w," sizes="100vw" width="713" height="701"></p>

Important information to our customers concerning the quality of measurements

<h4><strong>A comprehensive analysis of renewable fuel testing technologies, automation, and ISO-compliant proximate analysis</strong></h4><p>The growing demand for renewable energy has increased the importance of accurate biofuel characterization. Biomass feedstocks and finished fuels must be carefully analyzed to ensure quality, efficiency, and compliance with international standards. LECO analytical instrumentation supports this work through automated and highly reliable analytical technologies.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/TGA_801_Termogravimetricka_analyza_vlhkosti_popela_tekavych_latek_a_ztraty_zihanim_b73c4cf493.jpg" alt="LECO: Advancing Biofuel Characterization with LECO Analytical Instrumentation: LECO’s TGA801, used for automated biofuel analysis." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_TGA_801_Termogravimetricka_analyza_vlhkosti_popela_tekavych_latek_a_ztraty_zihanim_b73c4cf493.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1164" height="435"></p><h3><strong>Automated Proximate Analysis with LECO’s TGA801</strong></h3><p>The<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1877"> <strong>LECO TGA801 thermogravimetric analyzer</strong> </a>is designed for automated determination of moisture, volatile matter, and ash content in solid fuels. The system can analyze up to 19 samples simultaneously and combine all three parameters into one automated run, improving efficiency and reproducibility.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_31e96f1c96.jpg" alt="LECO Advancing Biofuel Characterization with LECO Analytical Instrumentation: TGA801 system with ceramic turntable and crucibles for ISO 18123 volatile matter determination." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_31e96f1c96.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="860" height="573"></p><h3><strong>Comparison with ISO Reference Methods</strong></h3><p>To validate the performance of the automated TGA801 system, comparative studies were conducted using internationally recognized ISO reference methods. Moisture determination was compared with ISO 18134, ash content with ISO 18122, and volatile matter with ISO 18123. These standards prescribe specific temperatures and analytical procedures, but also permit automated systems if equivalent performance can be demonstrated.</p><p>The comparison included a broad range of materials such as wood pellets, peat, coal, plastics, and waste-derived fuels. Moisture and ash results generated by the TGA801 showed extremely close agreement with the manual ISO procedures. This strong correlation confirms that automated thermogravimetric analysis can provide the same reliability as conventional methods while greatly increasing throughput and reducing labor requirements.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_2_3887128788.jpg" alt="LECO: Advancing Biofuel Characterization with LECO Analytical Instrumentation: ISO method crucibles for manual volatile determination." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_2_3887128788.jpg 172w," sizes="100vw" width="1264" height="1145"></p><h3><strong>Volatile Matter Correlation Results</strong></h3><p>For volatile matter analysis, both ISO and TGA procedures measure mass loss during a fixed period at 900 °C. The TGA method introduces an additional heating ramp from the moisture determination step at approximately 105 °C to the higher volatile matter temperature. Despite this procedural difference, the resulting data demonstrated excellent agreement.</p><p>Testing performed on wood pellets showed a strong linear relationship between the ISO and TGA methods with an R² value of approximately 0.94. The maximum deviation observed was only 1.06%, while the average difference between methods was approximately 0.1%. These results confirm the ability of the TGA801 to produce highly accurate volatile matter measurements across a variety of biomass and fuel matrices.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_2_40f7189cef.jpg" alt="LECO Advancing Biofuel Characterization with LECO Analytical Instrumentation: Correlation and comparative data between ISO methods and LECO TGA analysis." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_2_40f7189cef.jpg 172w," sizes="100vw" width="1065" height="967"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_1_7519e8e646.jpg" alt="LECO Advancing Biofuel Characterization with LECO Analytical Instrumentation: Correlation and comparative data between ISO methods and LECO TGA analysis." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_LECO_Advancing_Biofuel_Characterization_with_LECO_Analytical_Instrumentation_1_7519e8e646.jpg 228w," sizes="100vw" width="1641" height="1120"></p><h3><strong>Advantages of Automated Biofuel Analysis</strong></h3><ul><li>High sample throughput with simultaneous multi-sample analysis.</li><li>Fully automated workflows reducing operator involvement.</li><li>Integrated determination of moisture, ash, and volatile matter in one run.</li><li>Excellent reproducibility and data consistency.</li><li>Strong agreement with ISO reference methods without additional calibration.</li><li>Improved data security and laboratory efficiency.</li><li>Suitable for research laboratories, industrial quality control, and fuel certification.</li></ul><h3><strong>Automate Your Lab Today</strong></h3><p>LECO analytical instrumentation provides a comprehensive solution for modern biofuel characterization. From calorific value determination and elemental composition analysis to ash fusibility and automated proximate analysis, these technologies support both scientific research and industrial production with fast, reliable, and reproducible results.<br><br>The TGA801 demonstrates how automation can significantly improve laboratory efficiency while maintaining full compliance with ISO reference methods. By integrating moisture, ash, and volatile matter analysis into a single automated workflow, the system reduces labor requirements, increases throughput, and enhances data quality.<br><br>As renewable energy continues to expand globally, advanced analytical systems will remain essential for ensuring fuel quality, supporting regulatory compliance, and driving innovation in sustainable energy technologies. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1877"><strong>Explore the features of the LECO TGA801 today.</strong></a></p>

Advancing Biofuel Characterization with LECO Analytical Instrumentation

<p><strong>In the week from July 6, the following webinars await you in the field of atomic and molecular spectroscopy and spectrometry</strong></p><blockquote><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinars"><strong>👉 DETAILS AND REGISTRATION IN THE WEBINARS SECTION</strong></a></h4><p><strong>👉 Search and filter in the largest global database</strong> with over <strong>5 500 GC, LC, MS and spectroscopy webinars</strong>.</p></blockquote><h5><strong>1. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Lunch and Learn Tips and Tricks Series: Trace Elemental Analysis (ICP-OES &amp; ICP-MS)</strong></h5><ul><li>Tu, 7.7.2026 12:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/5977">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Learn practical tips to optimize ICP-OES and ICP-MS performance, improve data quality, streamline troubleshooting and maintenance, and enhance sample preparation for more efficient elemental analysis.</p><h5><strong>2. SelectScience: Expanding the 4D-STEM Toolbox for Advanced Materials Characterization</strong></h5><ul><li>Tu, 7.7.2026 15:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6318">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Explore how Timepix4 detector technology advances 4D-STEM workflows, enabling high-resolution imaging, data-driven acquisition, and new opportunities in electron microscopy.</p><h5><strong>3. Anton Paar: Microwave Digestion: The Foundation of Accurate Trace Metal Analysis</strong></h5><ul><li>We, 8.7.2026 09:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6321">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Build robust workflows for trace metal analysis. Learn how microwave digestion ensures fast, contamination-free, and complete sample preparation across complex food matrices.</p><h5><strong>4. Wiley: From liquids to solids: expand what your UV-Vis-NIR Spectrometer can do</strong></h5><ul><li>We, 8.7.2026 16:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6367">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Discover how the Agilent Cary UV-Vis-NIR spectrometer, together with Specac accessories, enables reliable analysis of liquids, powders, films, pellets, and highly scattering solid samples.</p><h5><strong>5. SelectScience: The next generation ICP-MS designed to wow trace element analysts</strong></h5><ul><li>We, 8.7.2026 16:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6320">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Upgrade your trace-element analysis. Discover how the new Agilent 9500 ICP-MS eliminates interferences and simplifies method development for complex matrices.</p><h5><strong>6. LECO: Dry Matter and Ash Determination in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge</strong></h5><ul><li>Th, 9.7.2026 16:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6324">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Optimize wastewater analysis. Learn how automated thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) replaces manual drying and ashing steps to determine dry matter and ash in sewage sludge.</p><h5><strong>7. Waters Corporation: Cracking the Code on Nitrogen Methods</strong></h5><ul><li>Th, 9.7.2026 17:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6327">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Learn the fundamentals of nitrogen analysis for wastewater testing. Explore analytical methods, QA/QC, sample handling, compliance reporting, and troubleshooting for accurate environmental monitoring.</p><h5><strong>8. Agilent Technologies: ICP Expert 7.8: Booming ICP-OES Software Innovation</strong></h5><ul><li>Th, 9.7.2026 20:00 CEST</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/webinar/6368">Registration</a></li></ul><p>Discover what's new in ICP Expert™ 7.8 and how the latest software innovations can improve data quality, simplify routine operation, and increase day-to-day laboratory efficiency.</p>

Webinars LabRulezICPMS Week 28/2026

Article

Product

Webinars

Application

Academy

Eurachem is a European network promoting international traceability of chemical measurements and good analytical practice. It provides expert guidance, supports method validation, uncertainty evaluation, proficiency testing, and facilitates discussion on technical and policy issues in analytical quality.

Eurachem

Everything from the world of analytical chemistry in one place. We connect people in solving their problems. At Labrulez you will find all the necessary information easily, quickly and clearly. Stop searching and start finding.

LabRulez

In 1936, the Laboratory Equipment Company introduced the first rapid carbon determinator for the American iron and steel industry.  Today, almost 80 years later, LECO is recognized globally as a leader in the development of high-quality analytical instrumentation, mass spectrometers, comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography, metallography & optical equipment as well as consumables.

LECO

Agilent Technologies

<p><strong>Two years have passed since we hosted our first microplastics symposium.</strong></p>
<p>Since then, the microplastic landscape has witnessed significant developments—the impending release of the first ISO standard and ongoing advancements in SOPs. We are pleased that we can bring you together with experts in our field.</p>
<p>This digital conference aims to explore various crucial topics related to the analysis of microplastics, covering areas such as sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and evaluation.</p>
<h3><strong>Highlights – Why you should attend</strong></h3>
<h5><strong>Stay updated on microplastic analysis</strong></h5>
<p>Gain insight into the latest advancements and challenges in microplastic analysis. This seminar covers essential aspects such as sampling, sample preparation, and analysis techniques like spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and chromatography (pyr/TED-GC/MS). </p>
<h5><strong>Explore diverse applications</strong></h5>
<p>Discover the wide range of applications beyond microplastic analysis that can be addressed with a QCL-based IR imaging system like the LDIR 8700. Get an overview of its potential in areas such as materials, bio, and pharmaceuticals.</p>
<h5><strong>Take part in a live demo</strong></h5>
<p>Witness a live demonstration of an automatic microplastic analysis workflow. Experience firsthand how these techniques and technologies come together to address real-world challenges. Engage with Agilent experts who will answer any questions you may have.</p>
<h5><strong>Showcase your expertise</strong></h5>
<p>Actively participate by presenting your work and contributions in techniques like TED-GC/MS, pyr-GC/MS, and ICP-MS, which are crucial for microplastic analysis. Alternatively, highlight your knowledge of the versatile LDIR 8700 system, showcasing its applications in pharmaceuticals, material analysis, or bio sectors.</p>
<h3><strong>Agenda</strong></h3>
<h5><strong>09:00 Welcome Introduction &amp; Video of Geoff Winkett , Agilent Technologies</strong></h5>
<h5><strong>9:10 The World of Microplastics Up to Date an Overview</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Andreas Kerstan (Agilent Technologies)</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>09:30 Hot news on Agilent LDIR, new developments, and future perspective</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Wesam Alwan , Darren Robey (Agilent Technologies)</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>09:50 Release of Plastic Additives and Microplastic Particles from Different Consumer Products into Water under Accelerated UV Weathering Conditions</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Lars Hildebrandt (Scientist, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon)</li>
</ul>
<p>Photodegradation of plastic products is known to accelerate weathering and the resulting release of chemical additives and particles to the environment, however these processes are complex. Here, eight different plastic consumer products were leached in double distilled water under exposure to strong ultraviolet (UV) light for ten days, and the chemical composition of the leachates was compared to their respective dark controls. The leachates and plastic particles were investigated with a wide battery of chemical analytical tools to broadly characterize the underlying processes and possible hazards. These covered (a) metal(loid) analysis, (b) microplastic analysis, (c) analysis of &gt;70 organic target analytes and (d) nontargeted screening of the extracts.</p>
<h5><strong>10:10 Identification of Polymers Using Machine Learning</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Xin Tian (Scientific Researcher, KWR NL)</li>
</ul>
<p>Microplastics and other polymers are found in the environment. For this reason, it is important to have reliable methods to identify them. Methods used to detect nano- and microplastics in the environment include Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, laser-directed infrared (LDIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/pyrolysis. These measurement techniques can provide a lot of information, but sometimes require a database with a lot of high-quality data to compare measurement results. Machine learning (especially classification models) can help improve data processing and accuracy.</p>
<p>Recent research has looked at how machine learning can help improve the accuracy of identification with infrared spectroscopy. Different computer models were tested and examined to see if the accuracy increases and if it does not require an unreasonable amount of computing power and time. This research focused on finding an effective method for identifying polymers in the environment based on their mid-infrared spectroscopic signals.</p>
<p>Polymers are identified by infrared spectroscopy by comparing their spectra with spectra in a database/library. This works well for new polymers, which are clean and barely degraded. Since polymers from the environment are actually degraded, comparing their infrared spectra with spectra in the library is difficult. This is because the spectra in the library often have large deviations from the spectra of the measured polymers. Increasing the number of spectra in the library is not possible because the number of spectra of environmentally degraded polymers is almost infinite. The study therefore looked at whether the problem of small data sets can be addressed using machine learning. The research presents a data enrichment technique to generate spectra of degraded polymers from single spectra of a limited number of samples. Four models were tested using these spectra to identify polymers. The study shows that all the models achieve high success rates, thereby facilitating the identification of polymers from environmental samples. Moreover, the research shows that it is not necessarily the most advanced computer model (particularly deep neural network models) that yields the best results.</p>
<h5><strong>10:30 From the River to the Sea: Microplastics in Sediments of the Thames River</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Friederike Strock (Postdoc, German Federal Institute of Hydrology)</li>
</ul>
<p>Microplastics have been investigated for over 45 years especially in the marine environment, but only in the past years research has started to focus on freshwater environments. In the frame of the H2020 LABPLAS project, sediments along the course of the Thames river in its freshwater and estuarune part were studied in order to better understand the sources, transport, distribution and impacts of plastic pollution and to detect the amount of plastics transport via the rivers into the sea.</p>
<p>In the frame of the project, a winter and a summer campaign were conducted 2022 and samples taken from 6 sites within the study area. Sediment samples were taken with a Van Veen grabber from the edge of the river, wet sieved into different compartments (10 100 µm, 100 1000 µm, &gt;1000 µm), density separated and the organic matter digested. The plastics from the sediments were characterized with a Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR). The preliminary results reveal that microplastics are present in all samples. The amount of particles varies significantly between the sampling sites showing the importance of industrial emissions and cities.</p>
<h5><strong>10:50 Good Laboratory Practices to Characterize Microplastics Using Quantum-Cascade Laser Reflectance Absorbance Spectrometry</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Jose Manuel Andrade Garda (Professor Analytical Chemistry, University of A Corunna)</li>
</ul>
<p>The nowadays broad societal interest in microplastic pollution demands urgent responses and actions. For these be possible politicians must set rules which, in turn, are not possible at all without sound scientific data. Unfortunately, there is a general feeling that the experimental results obtained so far are not still fully comparable and, further, that the monitoring field where hundreds or samples are taken is not being fully considered. Scientific studies and future regulations depend critically on a reliable identification of the polymers (if any) that constitute the suspicious particles under study. Out of the various analytical techniques to characterize them a novel one based on reflectance-absorbance spectrometry, commercialized as LDIR, outstands. It uses a tuneablemid-IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) to imaging a reflective microscopy slide or a metal-coated filter in a remarkable small timeframe. This communication is meant to present best practice guides to overcome some obstacles/difficulties in routine measurements, and open a path for field monitoring; among them: the adequacy of the spectral range, the variation of the peak&#39;s intensities with the size of the particles; the speed of the analysis as a function of the instrumental setup; the criterion to identify unknown spectra (a tiered approach is finally suggested); and how to differentiate fibers and fragments semiautomatically. Also, an empirical dependence of the depth of penetration of the QCL laser in common plastic particles is approached first time.</p>
<h5><strong>11:10 Chemical Characterization of Microplastics using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS)</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Soledad Muniategui-Lorenzo (Pull Professor of Analytical Chemistry, University of A Corunna)</li>
</ul>
<p>The implementation of monitoring programs for Microplastics requires reliable and standardisedmethods. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy techniques are the most commonly used for Microplastics analysis. However, thermal analytical techniques are currently gaining popularity. This presentation focuses on the potential of mass-based thermal analytical techniques, in particular, Pyrolysis coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), for the accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of microplastics in environmental matrices. It outlines some advantages and good laboratory practices of this approach, the importance of method normalisation, and how it can provide detailed information on polymers and plastic additives.</p>
<h5><strong>11:20 Analysis of Fibrous Microplastics Using Laser Direct Infrared Imaging</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Monique Greiner (Research Associate, Hohenstein Laboratories)</li>
</ul>
<p>In the research field of microplastics the identification of their source is important in order to develop strategies to minimize the pollution. A major percentage of microplastics originates from textiles. One pathway into the environment are washing procedures because the textiles release fibers during the process. Therefore our aim was to find a fast and easy way to identify fibers. In our presentation we want to give insights in our approach to the analysis of fibrous microplastics with the LDIR 8700. We will talk about our strategies, the results we achieved and difficulties we faced.</p>
<h5><strong>11:40 Looking beyond the Polymer: Using Thermal Desorption GC MS to expand our understanding of Microplastics</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Jan Peter Mayser (Market Specialist, Markes International)</li>
</ul>
<p>Detecting and analysingmicroplastics in the environment is challenging. The method must be able to detect and distinguish between a large variety of polymers. Additives, such as hardeners, flame retardants and preservatives, used during the manufacturing process and other compounds, that can adhere to the surfaces of microplastics from their environment, can affect their toxicity assessment. These additives could be used to link the microplastics found in the environment to their original use or potentially even back to the manufacturer.</p>
<p>In this study, various salts were sampled and filtered and analyzed for their microplastic content. TD–GC–MS was used to identify and measure which concentration of the plastic PS, PET, PVC and Nylon 6 had been incorporated into the crystalline structure of the salt during evaporation. By using direct desorption and backflushing technology, a large sample size could be easily isolated from the lab environment during analysis while ensuring a large range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including the marker compounds for four polymers could be trapped and analyzed.</p>
<p>The VOC-profile of the microplastics not only gave information about the polymer and its concentration within the sample, but further information about the toxicity could be extracted. This enabled the determination and tentative identification of additional compounds in the samples, such as dimethyl ether, acrolein and cyclopentane. These are used in the process of manufacturing plastics, so could assist with identifying the source of the plastics. For the four analysed polymers distinct marker compounds could be identified and calibration curves determined for each polymer. In all of the real-world salt samples microplastics were identified, highlighting the ubiquitous nature of the microplastic contamination.</p>
<p>This further information about the origin of the polymer, as well as the origin of the microplastic particles can be gathered by investigating the full VOC-profile obtained by TD-GC-MS. This allows both additional polymer information and particle source characterization.</p>
<h5><strong>12:00 Tiny Problems</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Roxana Sühring (Assistant Professor in Analytical Environmental Chemistry, Toronto Metropolitan University)</li>
</ul>
<p>Microplastics have been on the front page of newspapers, a dominant topic for environmental research (and funding), and a recent focus for regulatory action across the globe. Their potential impacts have been classed as a planetary boundary threat and new studies are published daily, reporting microplastics virtually anywhere on the planet. But despite numerous publications, there are still a lot of open questions on how to effectively and reproducibly characterize microplastics. How can microplastic characterization be automized? What is the impact of additives or weathering on the characterization accuracy?</p>
<p>In this presentation I will provide an overview and the first results of a research collaboration between Agilent technologies and the Emerging contaminants lab at Toronto Metropolitan University that works on addressing some of these questions. Our research aims to create a versatile microplastic library using weathered and new plastics commonly found in the environment. This library will additionally be used as a training set for developing automated particle characterization for the LDIR.</p>
<h5><strong>12:20 Identification of Microplastic Particles in Soil Using LDIR</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Martine Graf, PhD (Student &amp; Senior Technician, Bangor University)</li>
</ul>
<p>The use of agricultural plastic has become increasingly concerning in an environmental setting in recent years; in Europe alone, an estimated 2.5 million tones of plastic mulch films are used each year. The use of mulch films for crop production has been promoted by governments worldwide due to its many benefits, however the removal of these films from the soil can be difficult due to their poor mechanical strength and fragmentation, and barriers such as poor incentives for farmers and underdeveloped infrastructure for collection and disposal. The latter often leading to the films being discarded or incinerated along field margins, or ploughed back into the fields, leading to an accumulation of plastic legacy in soil. To evaluate the microplastic pollution levels in agricultural soils, we are i ) conducting a global soil survey in all partner countries; ii) assessing the degradation and fragmentation of conventional and biodegradable plastic mulch films in soil, and measuring the resulting microplastic production rate; and iii) measure the degradation and movement of microplastic in soil after repeated application. Microplastics are extracted from soil using targeted methods for different polymer types, and analysed using fluorescent microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and LDIR spectroscopy.</p>
<h5><strong>12:40 Wrap up and open discussion</strong></h5>


Agilent Technologies: Agilent Microplastics Virtual Symposium 2023

Agilent Microplastics Virtual Symposium 2023

Explore various crucial topics related to the analysis of microplastics, covering areas such as sampling, sample preparation, analysis, and evaluation.

<p><strong>Join Us For This Innovative Oligo Virtual Event</strong></p>
<p><strong>Join some or all of the sessions over 13 &amp; 14 March.</strong></p>
<p>In recent years a renewed interest in synthetic oligonucleotides has been piqued due to their potential in biochemical research and for therapeutic applications. This popularity has meant a growing need to develop robust approaches for analysis and purification of oligos, alongside an increased understanding of this class of compounds.</p>
<p>Across 2 days this educational virtual event will share key learnings around the analysis of synthetic oligonucleotides, providing expert insights from research discovery to production QA/QC. We invite you to join along with other scientists in this important field to revisit oligo fundamentals, discover tips and tricks, ask questions to experts, and discuss recent innovations in this fast-moving environment.</p>
<h4><strong>Agenda:</strong></h4>
<h4><strong>Day 2</strong></h4>
<h5><strong>10:00 - More details to follow</strong></h5>
<h5><strong>10:45 - Oligonucleotide and Biopharmaceuticals Raw Materials Identification by Raman SORS and UV-VIS Thermal Melt Identification</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Paolo Scardina, Spectroscopy Product Specialist, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>11:30 - Analysis of Elemental Impurities in Synthetic Oligonucleotides by ICP-MS</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Sebastien Sannac, Atomic Spectroscopy Product Specialist, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>11:55 - Exploring the Applications and Innovations of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) in Biopharmaceuticals</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Soma Dasgupta, Applications Engineer, Agilent</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>12:20 - Oligonucleotide Purity Analysis - Oligo Pro II</strong></h5>
<ul>
<li>Leslie Friedmann, Product Manager, Agilent Technologies</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>13:05 - End of presentations</strong></h5>


Agilent: OligoConnect: Linking Science, Innovation, and Therapeutics

OligoConnect: Linking Science, Innovation, and Therapeutics (Day 2)

Across 2 days this educational virtual event will share key learnings around the analysis of synthetic oligonucleotides.

OligoConnect: Linking Science, Innovation, and Therapeutics

<p><strong>As cosmetic formulations grow more complex and regulations tighten, ensuring product safety, compliance, and sustainability requires advanced analytical solutions. This webinar brings together expert-led sessions and real-world insights that cover three key challenges: raw material testing, nanoparticle characterization, and fragrance allergen analysis.</strong></p><ul><li><strong>New Standard XP CEN ISO/TS 19590:2024</strong> – <strong>Characterization of Nano-Objects Using Single Particle ICP-MS. Application to Cosmetics</strong>: Explore the ISO/TS 19590:2024 standard, and hear from guest speaker Mathieu Menta (UT2A) who will present its applications in cosmetics, highlighting both technical and regulatory perspectives.</li><li><strong>Raw Material Testing Through Bags &amp; Closed Containers with the Vaya Handheld Raman System:</strong> Discover how innovative spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) technology &nbsp;allows non-destructive identification &nbsp;through transparent and opaque packaging—eliminating sampling waste, improving productivity, and supporting ISO 22716 GMP compliance and sustainable practices.</li><li><strong>Analysis of Fragrance Allergens: Following European Regulation 2023/1545:</strong> Learn how Agilent’s GC/TQ workflow helps cosmetics manufacturers comply with new allergen regulations by reliably identifying and quantifying fragrance allergens—even in complex formulations—while minimizing false results.</li></ul><h5><strong>Key learning objectives:</strong></h5><ul><li>Learn how to verify raw materials directly through packaging using Raman spectroscopy to eliminate sampling and reduce waste</li><li>Apply ISO/TS 19590:2024 for accurate characterization of nanoparticles in cosmetic formulations using single-particle ICP-MS</li><li>Gain practical insights from a customer case on implementing spICP-MS for nano-object analysis under real regulatory and quality constraints</li><li>Quantify fragrance allergens in complex cosmetic matrices with high selectivity and sensitivity using GC/TQ</li><li>Enhance analytical workflows by minimizing sample handling, reducing false identifications, and improving compliance with current regulations</li></ul><h5><strong>Who should attend?</strong></h5><ul><li>QC/QA professionals in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals</li><li>Regulatory and compliance managers</li><li>Analytical scientists, chemists and lab managers</li><li>R&amp;D teams</li><li>Anyone involved in nanoparticle characterization, raw material verification, or cosmetic testing</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Hansel Koelblen (Application Engineer - GC &amp; GC/MS, Agilent Technologies)</p><p>Hansel has worked with GCMS instrument for almost 10 years. He joined Agilent in 2017, first as a Field Service Engineer and now holds the position of France GC &amp; GC/MS Application Engineer.</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Thibault Brule (Product Specialist – Molecular Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies)</p><p>Thibault Brule is Molecular Spectroscopy Product Specialist. He joined Agilent Technologies on November 2024. His main role is to provide applicative and technical support to the network on UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies.</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Yolande Abdelnour (Product Specialist - Atomic Spectroscopy, Agilent Technologies)</p><p>Yolande Abdelnour holds a Ph.D. in Chemical and Plasma Process Engineering from “Ecole Supérieure de Chimie” in Paris and “University of Paris Sorbonne”. She worked as a research engineer at “Photowatts” for 3 years and then joined Varian in 1997 as European ICP-MS product specialist. Since 2010, she occupies within Agilent Technologies the position of Product Specialist for the Atomic Spectroscopy techniques including Atomic Absorption, Microwave Plasma, Inductively Coupled Plasma coupled to Optical Emission Spectroscopy, Single Quad and Triple Quad Mass Spectrometry.</p><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Mathieu Menta (Application Engineer, Ultra- Trace Analyses Aquitaine (UT2A) - Pau)</p><p>Mathieu Menta is Applications Engineer at UT2A since 2011. He is responsible for the physico-chemical characterization of nanomaterials and the speciation of trace elements by elemental mass spectrometry. He is also involved in project management and quality assurance. He has co-authored several scientific publications, notably on the quantification of nanoparticles in food, cometics ans pharmaceutics using spICP-MS and on the rapid and accurate determination of elemental impurities in pharmaceutical products using a combination of standard addition and isotope dilution methods</p></blockquote>

Agilent Technologies: Characterization in Cosmetics: Nano-Objects ISO 19590:2024, Raw Material & Fragrance Allergens

Characterization in Cosmetics: Nano-Objects ISO 19590:2024, Raw Material & Fragrance Allergens

Ensure safety and compliance in cosmetics with insights on raw materials, nanoparticles, and allergens. Discover cutting-edge tools like ICP-MS and Raman SORS.

ICPMS webinars focusing on ICP/MS - page 1