Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 06:34 PM
By Mike Gottschalk
This year's Pittcon in Orlando, Florida (Feb 28 - March 5) will be an exciting event for Pickering Laboratories when new instruments and applications will be rolled out.
Pickering Laboratories continues to bring new products and improvements to the analytical market with the new line of Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Mycotoxin, and Classic post-column derivatization products.
A new addition to the GPC line is the GPC Quattro; a manual GPC clean-up system that has 4 columns for simultaneous operations of 4 different applications or high throughput of the same applications.
Immunoaffinity column processing gets some help with the introduction of AcceCLEANTM; an 
automated system for Immunoaffinity columns holding 30 columns for unattended operation.
For the detection of Aflatoxin by photochemical reaction the UVETM reactor is the best designed product available. Recognized for exceptional design and ease of use the UVETM is fast becoming the leading product in this area.
A new Column protection system for Cation-exchange HPLC applications will be unveiled exclusively at Pittcon this year.
The new GARDTM manufactured by Pickering Laboratories is a substantial improvement over the standard packed guards. The new GARDTM adds little pressure, is invisible to the chromatography, and has substantially more capacity for strongly retained compounds that can foul the analytical column.
Photo: GARD and Holder
Amino Acid Analysis is faster than ever with 2 new columns for the Pinnacle PCX. The 30 minute sodium run and 70 minute lithium run provide exceptional separation and selectivity at faster run times.
New Post-column derivatization applications include Voglibose and Alendronic Acid to the family of Pickering Laboratories' validated methods. If Pickering Labs validates a method it is guaranteed to work!
Visit us in booth 2368 at Pittcon for full details.
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 06:32 PM
By Michael Pickering
Until the late 15th
Century, selling inferior or adulterating authentic saffron was a punishable crime. Times have changed. In my neighborhood today, the price of saffron ranges from $1.50/oz (a Chinese medicinal, which is a mixture of saffron and safflower) to $1000.00/oz (certified organic, unit size 0.007oz, sold as a food commodity). At organic prices, moisture would be a significant adulterant. Buyers beware: I have also seen pure Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) pistils sold as saffron at $12.45/oz. The pure pistils are variously referred to as Mexican saffron, Portuguese saffron, or bastard saffron. Though safflower will produce the desired color, it is lacking the distinctive taste and smell of true saffron. Such egregious behavior surely would have warranted the death penalty in the Middle Age.
The North African Crocus is a lovely, lavender bloom in the fall. Each flower bears three outrageously large stamens which must be harvested by hand immediately upon blossoming. The stamens are bright red-orange when plucked and deep red to brown when dried. In trade, they are referred to as threads. Although saffron is cited as a medicinal in the Chinese Pharmacopeia, most peoples of the world prize the threads for their characteristic color and heady, aromatic spice qualities. The spice is considered the costliest in the world due to the laborious harvest and paltry yield (estimated at 13,000 stamens per ounce).
The following are singular dishes that cannot be prepared without saffron: Bouillabaise, Harira, Risotto Milanese, and Seafood Paella.
Since saffron has no ritual significance to me, nor am I royalty, the bulk Chinese variety suits my palate. I just use more to create the effect I want. My favorite personal recipe, using the bulk Chinese saffron, is as follows:
Poached White Fish with Saffron Infused Lime Sauce
White fish fillets
Three peppercorns per fillet
Court Bouillon:
- about 4 cups water
- one-forth cup Mirin (Japanese sweet cooking wine)
- one lime, juice and zest
- three green onions, chopped
- one stalk celery, thinly sliced including the leaves if possible
Sauce:
- Cointreau and lime juice, 1:1 ratio (if you want stronger lime flavor, add the zest too)
- Saffron 1/8 tsp. per fillet, ground in a mortar (if using certified organic saffron, add three threads per four fillets)
Garnish:
- chopped green onions
- toasted pumpkin seeds
Using a heavy iron skillet large enough to accommodate the fish without touching, warm the peppercorns until aromatic. Add water and other bouillon ingredients. Simmer 15-20 minutes. Push aside solids and lay fish fillets flat on bottom of skillet - bouillon level in skillet should be even with tops of fillets. Bring back to simmer, cover skillet and turn off heat. Set aside for 15-20 minutes. Remove fillets and set on serving platter, pour sauce over fish, garnish and serve. Enjoy!
Photo (l to r): organic Saffron, Safflower, and Herbal mix containing Safflower and trace amounts of Saffron
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 06:32 PM
A new Column protection system for Cation-exchange HPLC applications will be unveiled exclusively at Pittcon this year.The new GARD™ manufactured by Pickering Laboratories is a substantial improvement over the standard packed guards. The new GARD™ adds little pressure, is invisible to the chromatography, and has substantially more capacity for strongly retained compounds that can foul the analytical column.
The new GARD Column Protection System significantly prolongs column life without band spreading or added pressure. We will have a poster at Pittcon demonstrating, by means of a performance comparison for Amino Acid Analysis, that the use of a GARD will protect the analytical column more effectively than traditional guard cartridges, is more cost-effective for the laboratory, is easy to change, and most importantly has zero band spreading.
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 06:30 PM
Congratulations to the winners of our last newsletter's Chromatography Quiz:
Matthew Hartz,
Jamie Palmer, and
Keena Njoroge from Underwriters Laboratories,
Sudheer Reddy from Chemtex, and
Becky Canela from Environmental Laboratory Services!
They've each won, and will shortly be receiving from Gifttree.com, two dozen irresistible cookies in five flavors: White Chocolate Hazelnut, Snickerdoodle, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, and Chocolate Chip.
The correct answer for the modified Carbamates chromatogram: we reversed the two reagents. The OPA reagent was pumped in the Reagent One position, and the Hydrolysis reagent was pumped in the Reagent Two position. Thus 1-Naphthol, which is naturally fluorescent, appears full-sized. The other Carbamate peaks have different sizes due to their varying rate of hydrolysis - the high pH of the OPA reagent will allow for some but not complete hydrolysis prior to detection.
Chromatography Quiz: Amino Acid Analysis
Identify the error made when running the Amino Acids chromatogram below and win a prize! Simply email your answer and your full contact information to Rebecca at rlsmith@pickeringlabs.com by March 1st in order to win. The troubleshooting answer and winner congratulations will be published in the next issue (to be anonymous, please notify Rebecca in submission).
Amino Acid Analysis of Physiological Fluids:
Pickering Standard: 011006P Native Sample Standard 0.25 µmole/mL, 10 µL injection
Pickering Column: 0354100T High Efficiency Lithium Cation-exchange Column, 4.0 x 100 mm
Normal Operating Conditions: (for reference only, condition changes may be reflected in chromatogram)
Column Temperature: 36 °C
Flow rate: 0.35 mL/min
Eluent Gradient:
|
TIME |
Li275 % |
Li750 % |
RG003 % |
|
0 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
|
12 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
|
48 |
65 |
35 |
0 |
|
90 |
0 |
100 |
0 |
|
95 |
0 |
100 |
0 |
|
120 |
0 |
94 |
6 |
|
122 |
0 |
94 |
6 |
|
122.1 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
|
140 |
100 |
0 |
0 |
Post-column conditions for amino acid analysis:
Reagent 1: Trione
Reactor 1: 130 °C, 0.5 mL
Reagent flow rate: 0.3 mL/min
Detection: UV-Vis Detector, 570nm for primary amino acids, 440nm for secondary amino acids
Hint: Assume in this case that both Guard and Analytical column are good. To see a standard Amino Acid chromatogram, click here
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:34 PM
By Mike
Gottschalk, Marketing Manager
It was the
125th Anniversary of the AOAC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and this annual meeting was especially exciting with the anniversary
celebrations.
At the
Vendor exhibition we highlighted our Mycotoxin and GPC
Sample-Cleanup products lines to expand our offering of the post-column derivatization
products we are most known for.
The
Scientific sessions also reflected growing interest in the analysis of Mycotoxins
as well as Paralytic Shell Fish Toxins and a broad range of analytical
instrumentation and techniques.
We brought
a large contingency of personnel including Dr. Pickering, Dr. Ofitserova, Dr.
Nerkar, Dr. Torma to accept the AOAC's Single
Laboratory Validation of the Year Award 
for our Multi-residue Mycotoxin Analysis. The paper, titled "Multi-residue Mycotoxin
Analysis in Corn Grain by Column High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with
Post-column Photochemical and Chemical Derivatization: Single-Laboratory
Validation" was also published in the Journal of AOAC International Vol. 92, No. 1,
2009.
Photo: Michael, Maria, and Sareeta at AOAC
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:33 PM
Mycotoxin product line
We
are now distributing Mycotoxin Immunoaffinity products for Ochratoxin and
Aflatoxin. The performance and
batch-to-batch reproducibility of the columns is exceptional and far exceeds
that of other manufacturers. The columns can be used for any matrix, from
wine and juice, to nuts and grains, to herbs and spices. Contact Sales for more
information.
GPC Sample Clean up line
We
have a new GPC Sample Clean-up product line! We have both automated and manual
GPC cleanup systems and we also have systems that include concentration &
solvent exchange, or just GPC. Sample cleanup using GPC is especially useful
for fatty matrices, but also perfect for vegetable matter and spices, as well
as soil & waste water.
New faster AAA columns
We now have
a Lithium amino acid run which will separate 45 amino acids in 70 minutes for
Physiologic fluids, an a new 30-min Sodium amino acid run which will separate the
20 amino acids commonly found in protein hydrolysate samples. These columns are for use with our Pinnacle PCX.
Histamine Product Line
Our
newly launched Histamine product line consists of Dip-sticks and Elisa kits as
well as Post-column derivatization for fast and in-situ testing as well as
quick, reproducible, and sensitive methods for follow-up confirmation. Contact Pickering Laboratories at 1-800-654-3330 or sales@pickeringlabs.com for more information!
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:33 PM
By David
Mazawa, Technical Support Chemist
Parts Lookup for Pickering Instruments Now on the Internet:
Looking for
a part number? Try out our new Parts Lookup for the Pinnacle, Vector, and 5200
models. It can be found on our website www.pickeringlabs.com
Click on Replacement Parts from the Service and Support pull-down menu. On
the Left column you will see Replacement
Components. Place your mouse over it and select the first option, which is Parts Lookup. You can also use the
following link: http://www.pickeringlabs.com/partslookup/default.asp
Make sure
your web browser can support Flash applications before selecting your
instrument. Place your mouse over the part you are looking for and the part
number will be displayed. The Parts Lookup was designed to provide part numbers
of commonly replaced parts. If what you are looking for is not available on the
Parts Lookup, call Technical Support at (800) 654-3330 or (650) 694-6700 or
email support@pickeringlabs.com.
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:30 PM
by Michael Pickering
In the
process of washing laundry the cleaning agent is the water, the “universal
solvent.” The surfactant
(soap/detergent) facilitates the removal of strongly adsorbed and hydrophobic
soil from the clothes. Foam, however, is
a contaminant. Suds stabilizers added to
the surfactant create persistent foam.
Unfortunately, most consumers believe foaming to be evidence of a good
surfactant; that it is desirable. The
truth is quite the opposite. Foam
residues are difficult to remove. Notice,
after all, that the foam is excluded from the solution/emulsion phase: it
floats. Thus the rinse cycle is inadequate
to the task of removing it. It is the
residue of these suds stabilizers on laundered swim suits that necessitate the
frequent exchanging of spa water.
Contaminated hot tubs, when set to the ‘jets’ cycle, quickly build up
foam on the surface of the water. The
foam becomes thicker and more persistent with each subsequent use. Eliminating the use of swim suits, or rinsing
the suits with water alone, will greatly increase the life of your spa
water. 
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:29 PM
This
section is devoted to our customers: for sharing customer experiences and
feedback, up-coming changes in products, upcoming surveys, etc. This is also our Chromatography Quiz section,
where each issue will contain a new chromatogram and a question associated with
it. Each winner will receive a prize, and will be listed in the next issue.
We
encourage all of our customers to submit stories, feedback, experiences, and
we’ll pick one or two to share with the community.
Upcoming Events
Customer
Satisfaction Survey – keep an eye out for a survey coming by email in
late November. It will be a short questionnaire designed to gauge our customer
satisfaction and how we can improve.
Chromatography Quiz
Chromatography Quiz No. 1: Carbamate Analysis for US EPA 531.1
Special Note: This is the first
Quiz included with our newsletter. For each issue, we’ll choose a chromatogram
from a different application or industry. So if Carbamates don’t apply to your
lab this round, stay tuned! The quizzes and newsletter will be published
Quarterly
To Win:
Simply email your answer and your full contact information by December 1st to: Rebecca at rlsmith@pickeringlabs.com
The troubleshooting answer and winner congratulations will be published in the next issue.
Identify the error made when running the Carbamate chromatogram below and win a prize!
Pickering Standard: 1700-0063 Carbamate Test Mix, 2.5 µg/mL, inject 10 µL
Pickering Column: 1846150 Carbamate Column, C18, 4.6 x 150 mm
Normal Operating Conditions (for reference only, condition changes may be reflected in chromatogram):
Column Temperature: 42 °C
Flow rate: 1 mL/min
Eluent Gradient:
TIME WATER MeOH %
0 85 15
0.5 85 15
28.5 30 70
28.6 0 100
33.5 0 100
33.6 85 15
41 85 15
Post-column conditions for pesticide analysis:
Reagent 1: Hydrolysis reagent CB130
Reagent 2: 100 mg of OPA, 2 g ThiofluorTM in 950 mL of CB910
Reactor 1: 100 °C, 0.5 mL
Reactor 2: ambient. 0.1 mL
Reagent flow rates: 0.3 mL/min
Detection: Fluorometer ex 330 nm, em 465 nm
Hint: to compare with a normal Carbamate chromatogram, click here
Posted by Wendy Rasmussen on Wed, Oct 21, 2009 @ 03:29 PM
Special Note: This is the first Quiz included with our newsletter. For each issue, we’ll choose a chromatogram from a different application or industry. So if Carbamates don’t apply to your lab this round, stay tuned!
To Win:
Simply email your answer and your full contact information by December 1st to: Rebecca at rlsmith@pickeringlabs.com
The troubleshooting answer and winner congratulations will be published in the next issue.
Chromatography Quiz
Identify the error made when running the Carbamate chromatogram below and win a prize!
Pickering Standard: 1700-0063 Carbamate Test Mix, 2.5 µg/mL, inject 10 µL
Pickering Column: 1846150 Carbamate Column, C18, 4.6 x 150 mm
Normal Operating Conditions (for reference only, condition changes may be reflected in chromatogram):
Column Temperature: 42 °C
Flow rate: 1 mL/min
Eluent Gradient:
| TIME |
WATER |
MeOH % |
| 0 |
85 |
15 |
| 0.5 |
85 |
15 |
| 28.5 |
30 |
70 |
| 28.6 |
0 |
100 |
| 33.5 |
0 |
100 |
| 33.6 |
85 |
15 |
| 41 |
85 |
15 |
Post-column conditions for pesticide analysis:
Reagent 1: Hydrolysis reagent CB130
Reagent 2: 100 mg of OPA, 2 g Thiofluor™ in 950 mL of CB910
Reactor 1: 100 °C, 0.5 mL
Reactor 2: ambient. 0.1 mL
Reagent flow rates: 0.3 mL/min
Detection: Fluorometer ex 330 nm, em 465 nm
Hint: to compare with a normal Carbamate chromatogram, click here