AOAC 140th Annual Meeting 2026
August 29 - September 2
We’re going to AOAC 2026 in Indianapolis, IN! Stop by Booth 220 to talk with our team about our next-gen RMX columns. Engineered to provide sharper peaks and longer lifetimes, these new GC columns are ideal for food and enviro analyses.
Restek’s Presentations at AOAC 2026
Vendor Seminar
Cutting Downtime, Not Columns: Performance of a Next-Generation Inert Capillary Column for Multiresidue GC-MS/MS Analysis
Tuesday, September 1, 1:30–2:00 p.m. | Grand Ballroom 8
Presenter: Jonathan DeCenzi & Ramkumar Dhandapani
The analysis of pesticide residues in complex botanical matrices is often complicated by high levels of coextracted starches, oils, water, and other naturally occurring compounds that persist even after extensive sample cleanup. Achieving reliable detection and quantitation of pesticides at trace levels demands a chromatographic column with exceptional inertness, resolution, and long-term stability. We present the evaluation of a novel GC capillary column, engineered for outstanding inertness and robustness in GC-MS/MS multiresidue pesticide analysis. Compared to conventional columns, this new design delivers markedly improved peak shape, signal-to-noise, and resolution across a wide variety of challenging botanical matrices, including ashwagandha root, lavender oil, and ginseng powder. A standout feature is its integrated fused silica retention gap at the inlet and fused silica transfer line at the outlet. This innovative construction ensures that retention times remain consistent, even after trimming, allowing for fast and reliable maintenance with no impact on chromatographic performance.
Technical Posters
Improved Baseline Stability and Sensitivity in GC–MS Using a Novel Column with an Uncoated Interface Section
Monday, August 31, all-day | Board #18
Presenter: Ramkumar Dhandapani
A novel gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) column design has been developed to enhance analytical performance by addressing persistent challenges in baseline stability and sensitivity. This innovation integrates a unique interface configuration that minimizes stationary phase degradation and thermal stress effects, particularly under elevated transfer line temperatures. Comparative evaluations using a diverse panel of pesticide analytes demonstrated significantly faster baseline stabilization and reduced background noise relative to conventional columns.
The new column architecture consistently delivered improved signal-to-noise ratios across full-scan and SIM modes, with pronounced benefits observed for high-boiling-point and late-eluting compounds. These enhancements suggest a substantial reduction in analyte loss and column bleed, enabling more reliable detection of thermally labile substances.
Challenges in Enhancing GC-MS/MS Analysis of Pesticides in Fruits, Vegetables, Cereals, and Pulses in a High-Throughput Routine Laboratory
Monday, August 31, all-day | Board #19
Presenter: Ramkumar Dhandapani
GC-MS/MS analysis on a conventional GC QQQ system is primarily governed by three factors: the choice of analytical separation column; the type of liner used; and the measurement approach—whether samples are analyzed in solvent or matrix, and whether an analytical protectant (AP) is applied, and which type. While deactivated liners with turbulence grooves are standard, their influence—along with septa and regeneration—remains significant. Column choice is equally crucial, excessive bleeding compromises sensitivity and peak resolution. Currently, we use a traditional polyphenylmethylsiloxane phase with 5% phenyl and 95% dimethyl, specifically optimized for mass spectrometry applications. While these columns deliver acceptable performance, trials clearly demonstrate that more inert alternatives offer significantly greater stability and reliability, such as RMX-5Sil MS with integra-transfer line. The third key factor is the measurement approach. Validation studies consistently show that the best results occur when standards and samples share the same matrix, thereby compensating for matrix effects. In a high-throughput setting, however, preparing individual matrix standards for all samples is impractical. Currently, we employ an analytical protectant recommended in the literature, consisting primarily of a sugar mixture. This AP mix mitigates the otherwise observed overestimation of standards in solvent compared to matrix-containing samples. This strategy appears to offer the greatest potential for improving and stabilizing results. The requirements for an effective AP or matrix standard are stringent: results must remain stable across the entire liner and all matrix groups, including fresh fruits and vegetables, juices and concentrates, rice, cereals, legumes, dried fruits, candied fruits, and sugars.
Furthermore, the chosen matrix or AP mix must be reproducibly manufacturable and consistently available. Extensive trials suggest that sugars, acids, and starches are key components for an effective AP mix. However, standardized mixtures of sugars, ascorbic acid, and various starches have not performed as well as using actual matrix, indicating that secondary plant metabolites also play a role. Currently, comparative measurements on selected pesticides using various test mixes are underway. Once the optimal matrix is identified, full-scope validation will follow.
Improving Method Robustness and Laboratory Throughput in GC-MS/MS Multiresidue Pesticide Analysis of Complex Botanical Matrices
Monday, August 31, all-day | Board #15
Presenter: Chanisse Rickard (NOW Foods)
The analysis of pesticide residues in complex botanical matrices is often complicated by high levels of coextracted starches, oils, water, and other naturally occurring compounds that persist even after extensive sample cleanup. Achieving reliable detection and quantitation of pesticides at trace levels demands a chromatographic column with exceptional inertness, resolution, and long-term stability. We present the evaluation of a novel GC capillary column, engineered for outstanding inertness and robustness in GC-MS/MS multiresidue pesticide analysis. Compared to conventional columns, this new design delivers markedly improved peak shape, signal-to-noise, and resolution across a wide variety of challenging botanical matrices, including ashwagandha root, lavender oil, and ginseng powder. A standout feature is its integrated fused silica retention gap at the inlet and fused silica transfer line at the outlet. This innovative construction ensures that retention times remain consistent, even after trimming, allowing for fast and reliable maintenance with no impact on chromatographic performance.
