Environment

Gilson's GX-Series Liquid Handlers, paired with TRILUTION® LH software and GEARS, can integrate with QINSTRUMENTS thermal and shaking modules. This powerful combination enables automated workflows involving heating, cooling, and agitation—ideal for redissolving compounds, kinetic testing, derivatization before SPE, and liquid-liquid extractions. Expand your system’s capabilities with precision temperature control and flexible labware support—all fully automated for increased efficiency and reliability.

Many sample types, such as those from the environment or food, undergo testing to detect contaminating residues such as pesticides, antibiotics, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and compounds of health concern. While the exact governmental regulations surrounding testing methods differ by country, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is one of the routine methods used to clean up samples before analysis. As a routine step in residue testing, is often a part of the workflow to prepare samples before analysis by a variety of chromatography methods such as GC, HPLC, or LC/MS. GPC removes unwanted substances such as lipids, proteins, cell debris, pigments, humic acid, and sulfur, that can interfere with downstream chromatography steps used to detect the residues. Including GPC cleanup in residue testing can help make chromatography columns last longer, protect instrumentation, and improve residue detection accuracy.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic compounds that have been widely used since the 1950s and are found in the environment and in the food supply. Because of the longevity of these chemicals, they pose a risk to human health through food and tap water consumption and other exposures. In order to understand the magnitude of the problem and to ultimately protect public health, regulatory agencies in various countries regularly detect and analyze PFAS in the food supply.

In this article, we provide an overview of GPC and how it’s used for post-extraction cleanup including: how GPC works, the components of a GPC system, and a step-by-step look into the GPC process

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals”, are highly stable materials used in a variety of household products, industries, and processes. These chemicals can pose several health risks to living organisms and contaminate the environment. In this article, we elaborate on the above along with how automated solid phase extraction can be used to isolate PFAS from numerous matrices including water, soil, air (dust), and food such as seafood and eggs.

To ensure the accuracy of your results, you need to opt between using a positive-displacement pipette vs air-displacement pipette. Here’s what you should know.

Analyzing the use of AttractSPE WAX-PFA cartridges with the Gilson 274 ASPEC Large Volume System to automate the SPE of PFAs from tap water samples.

The type of pipette you use, and your pipetting technique will have a major impact on the accuracy and results of your assays. Almost every laboratory that conducts research will have a pipetting procedure that accurately measures the exact volumes when aspirating and dispensing liquids. However, if the workflow calls for pipetting dense liquids, making sure you’re using the correct pipette can ensure accuracy in your assays.

When pipetting small volumes, you'll need to take additional steps to improve your sampling accuracy. Here are five tips for improving your pipetting technique.

Manual sample preparation and treatment is a laborious process requiring constant attention in the lab. Here’s how to optimize and automate your SPE workflows.