Chromatography - the future

[jtreacy]

I've been given one of those corporate BS jobs of formulating a 3 year plan for our chromatography group, in order to anticipate future trends.

I keep arguing that chromatogrqaphy is a mature technique and as such advances in fairly small increments with an occasional leap forward such as bench top MS or type B silica and lately UPLC.

I'd appreciate any views of the future from anyone who might be more aware of what's in the pipeline. Wacky ideas will also be welcome. We might be analysts but we have a sense of humour - I hope?

regards

John

[promochrom]

One thing that HPLC can improve is in sample preparation. If HPLC can integrate sample cleanup and enrichment with instruemtnal analysis, the life of chemiststs will be much easier.

There is still a lot to do in development of new columns, improvement of instrumentation, and education of instrument users.

PromoChrom is focusing on integration of sample preparation with instrumental analysis.

www.promochrom.com

[ym3142]

I will say, 1) more automation for both sample prep and method develp;
2) higher prediction;
3) universal methods;
4) method library for both API and impurity;

[Philip]

Permanent enablement of our physical presence in the lab environment. Soon enough, machines will be making ample samples. We must find ways to keep the mechanics far behind the chemists.

Regards,

Phil

[John]

What kind of business are you in?

[Philip]

John,

I'm an analytical chemist- in pharmaceuticals- apologies on the delayed response, been out of town.

Regards,

Philip

[John]

My question was actually to the original poster, but I am equally interested in your answer Phil

Phil, market forces make automation inevitable. We must keep the chemists ahead of the mechanics. Maybe this was what you were saying anyway.
J

[danko]

Hey guys,

As long as the machines don’t know what we want them to do for us, we’ll be needed in the lab, or wherever our jobs are.
The day they find out what we want (whenever it is) it’ll be better yet, because we’ll just concentrate on our families, hobbies, friends, arts etcetera.

And now to the serious part: I see room for improvement of various troubleshooting tools – lots of sensors for leaks, temperature deviations, air pockets, pressure sensors at different critical points in the hardware.
Detectors of different kinds are far from perfect and this is a field that can bear a lot of improvements too.

At last, one could wish for better materials the hardware is made of – more resistant to extreme pH, salts etc.