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Targeted or non-targeted? why picking one!? đ€©
Targeted or non-targeted? why picking one!? đ€©
In this research we presented a new analytical method for identifying and quantifying volatile and semi-volatile PFAS, which are increasingly attracting the attention as environmental pollutants. The concepts of targeted and non-targeted analysis were here merged and exploited in an integrated approach exploiting DHS-TD-GCĂGC-TOFMS for environmental monitoring of volatile fluoroalkyl pollutants. For targeted analysis, we developed and validated the method for the quantification of nine (semi-)volatile PFAS in water samples. Notably, the enhanced non-targeted capabilities of this method also allowed for the detection of 115 additional pollutants in water samples from an industrial site. The described integrated approach combines targeted PFAS monitoring with comprehensive non-targeted screening, offering a powerful tool for broader environmental assessment of volatile chemicals.
The work is available here, and it's open access!
08/04/2025
Let's smell Cannabis!
Let's smell Cannabis!
Cannabis inflorescences represent an important source of many high-value bioactive specialized metabolites, among which the family of terpenes or terpenoids are the largest classes of natural products known. Besides their biological activities either alone or synergistic with other terpenoids or cannabinoids, they are responsible for the distinctive "cannabis" flavour.Â
In this research, we exploited the separation power and identification capabilities of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GCĂGC-MS) for the profiling of terpenes and terpenoids in cannabis inflorescences. As extraction thecnique, dynamic headspace (DHS) was chosen and optimized for the best analyte coverage, reproducibility, and recovery.
The work is available here, and it's open access!
18/01/2025
It's online the talk from Breath Biopsy Conference 2024 on sampling conditions for volatile metabolites exploiting TD-GCĂGC-TOFMS
It's online the talk from Breath Biopsy Conference 2024 on sampling conditions for volatile metabolites exploiting TD-GCĂGC-TOFMS
The presentation discusses an important limitation of exhaled breath analysis that is the lack of standardized procedures and the need for robust external validation. To address these challenges, a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCĂGC-MS) system for monitoring probe metabolites in exhaled breath is presented and discusses. Another important point discussed is the fine selection and optimization of sampling conditions.
20/11/2024
Review in Anal. Bioanal. Chem.: "The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research"
Review in Anal. Bioanal. Chem.: "The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research"
30/01/2023
The most valuable product from advanced recycling is a fluid hydrocarbon stream (or pyrolysis oil) which represents the feedstock for further refinement and processing into new plastics. In this context, gas chromatography is currently playing an important role since it is being used to study the pyrolysis oils, as well as any organic contaminants, and it can be considered a high-resolution separation technique, able to provide the molecular composition of such complex samples. This information significantly helps to tailor the pyrolysis process to produce high-quality feedstocks. In addition, the detection of contaminants (i.e., heteroatom-containing compounds) is crucial to avoid catalytic deterioration and to implement and design further purification processes. The current review highlights the importance of molecular characterization of waste stream products, and particularly the pyrolysis oils obtained from waste plastics.
Here's the link to the publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-023-04519-8
30/12/2022
The paper describes an alternative modeling approach that breaks down the GCxGC system into two separate individual one-dimensional GC (1D GC) subsystems. Consequently, 1D GC retention time predictions are considered as separate 1D and 2D columns and then combined to describe the two-dimensional separation space.
Here's the link to the publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03107Â
GCxGC platforms comparison in tracking exhaled breath metabolites
GCxGC platforms comparison in tracking exhaled breath metabolites
30/07/2022
The paper describes an alternative modeling approach that breaks down the GCxGC system into two separate individual one-dimensional GC (1D GC) subsystems. Consequently, 1D GC retention time predictions are considered as separate 1D and 2D columns and then combined to describe the two-dimensional separation space.
Here's the link to the publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jssc.202200164
Review in Advances in Sample Preparation: "Modern sample preparation approaches for small metabolite elucidation to support biomedical research
Review in Advances in Sample Preparation: "Modern sample preparation approaches for small metabolite elucidation to support biomedical research
29/08/2022
The review is featuring the most used sample preparation techniques used for biological samples, especially considering those with a great premise in automation and in reducing the environmental impact. We focus the discussion on those techniques and applications aiming at extracting small molecules for the high-resolution analysis involving GCâMS for the following separation and detection.
Here's the link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sampre.2022.100017
New resource for Metabolomics studies!
New resource for Metabolomics studies!
29/06/2022
Metabolomics Perspectives is a metabolomics teaching book designed for undergraduate and graduate students as weel as researchers who are new to this discipline. It is divided into 3 parts: the first summarizes the necessary background to tackle the study of metabolomics, the second is dedicated to the main data analysis techniques applied in metabolomics, while the third reports a broad overview of the main applications in metabolomics.
Our contribution with the chapter on Separation Sciences used in this challenging field.... Chromatography and mass spectrometry lead the way!
Hello... (again)
Hello... (again)
01/04/2022
Hi,
I am happy to welcome you to my new personal webpage. My name is Flavio, and I'm currently holding an assistant professor position at the DOCPAS department (@University of Ferrara - Unife). I replaced the previous website with this new platform, also refreshing it with a new look!Â
A lot has changed from my first post (you find it also at the bottom of the page), it was 2015!... However, there are still plenty of (analytical) challenges to address!
My research at Unife is focused on the application and improvement of conventional and multidimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for life science and environmental applications.
Cheers,
Flavio A. Franchina
New research exploiting SBSE, GCxGC, and (LR- and HR-)MS in cannabinomics. Unbiased/wide metabolite coverage extraction with high-res separation/detection for untargeted/targeted analysis. I particularly enjoyed in developing this project. The power of SBSE, GCxGC, low- and high-res MS..together! So challenging and so much to do..here's the link to the publication: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c01301 Â
The path to follow for more reliable breath sampling is still long...this might represent a little step forward! I hope you enjoy the reading (you can download the article published in Talanta (Elsevier) here, or drop me a line if not free download not available anymore). Here's the link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2020.121569Â
Investigating aroma diversity combining purgeâandâtrap, comprehensive twoâdimensional gas chromatography and mass spectrometry: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jssc.201900902 .
HI...
HI...
04/16/2015
Dear Friends,
I'm glad to welcome you in my blog. First of all, I'm Flavio Antonio Franchina, that's why the website name (FFA), and I'm currently a post-doc researcher at the SCIFAR department (University of Messina). I have gained a good knowledge of various analytical techniques, mainly in the field of chromatography (GC, GCĂGC, LC-GC) and mass spectrometry (GC and GCĂGC coupled to single quadrupole, time of flight, triple quadrupole mass analyzers), for the analysis of various complex samples (petrochemical, food, flavour&fragrance, biological etc..).
As regards my main research target until now, it was focused on the development and improvement of both modulation interfaces for multidimensional (comprehensive) gas chromatography, namely cryogenic (as popular as it is expensive) and flow modulators, which still possess great separation power, do not require cryogenics and are therefore inexpensive to run, and are intrinsically suitable for a wider volatily range.
I decided few weeks ago to create a website to collect and share my work experience and my travels (attending conferences or training courses): the binder will be the chromatography. It's funny, I want to use here a separation technique with no separation power, as a unifying factor :)
Whoever you are, no matter if a full-time lab worker or just a weird curious one, you just need to be involved with anything around chromatography, from the intimate analyte/stationary-phase interaction inside the column, to the everyday-used chromatographic products: You Are in the Right place!
Best,
Flavio A. Franchina
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