A Mass Spectrometry Primer: Part I Aug 1, 2008 By: Michael P. Balogh

Michael Balogh begins a three-part overview series, answering questions about mass spectrometers, their use and capabilities, and including links to more detailed further reading in readily available articles written for the nonspecialist.

Determining Health Hazards: A Look into the EPA Practice Jun 1, 2008 By: Michael P. Balogh

The matter of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) came to focus at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) some eight years ago.

Petroleomics — MS from the Ocean Floor Mar 1, 2008 By: Michael P. Balogh

Recent work suggests that the practical value of hyphenated techniques is limited by difficulties inherent in achieving definitive compositional answers in general MS. This article argues that it is not impossible in certain cases.

Hardware and Software Challenges for the Near Future: Structure Elucidation Concepts via Hyphenated Chromatographic Techniques Feb 1, 2008 By: Tobias Kind, Oliver Fiehn, Michael P. Balogh

This month, guest columnists Kind and Fiehn discuss small-molecule structure elucidation (excluding peptides) using hyphenated chromatographic techniques, mass spectrometers, and other spectroscopic detectors.

Incipient Technologies: Desorption and Thermal Desorption Techniques Dec 1, 2007 By: Michael P. Balogh

Nearly a dozen incipient technologies have appeared in recent years. Which will survive? Which will find extensive, robust usage as did electrospray ionization? Which are fated to become footnotes in mass spectrometry practice?

"As research advances, about half of what we will teach you . . . will turn out to be wrong. The problem is, we presently don't know which half." Powerful Medicines, Jerry Avorn, 2004

This month's installment of "MS — The Practical Art" provides a slightly different view of how practitioners employ the skills of interpretation that have been the focus in recent columns.

Techniques for Structure Elucidation of Unknowns: Finding Substitute Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in Counterfeit Medicines Jun 1, 2007 By: Michael P. Balogh

This month's column brings much of the previous discussion on how to interpret mass spectra to a practical examination of detecting substitutions in counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Alternatives in the Face of Chemical Diversity Apr 1, 2007 By: Michael P. Balogh

In this month's "MS-The Practical Art," Michael Balogh takes a closer look at insight provided by Chuck McEwen regarding obstacles while using solvents.