Analyst, September 1996, Vol. 121 133N Conference Report 18th International Symposium on Capillary Chromatography, May 20-24,1996, Riva del Garda, Italy Most well established conference series are peripatetic travell- ers, moving from city to city, and country to country, in contrast the International Symposia on Capillary Chromatography returns every two years to the small town of Riva del Garda at the top of Lake Garda not just because of the wine and mountains but because of the high quality of the separation science. Once based primarily around the beginnings of the wides- pread adoption of glass and then fused silica columns in gas chromatography, it has now grown naturally to include capillary and microbore liquid chromatography, and supercritical fluid chromatography. Recent meetings have strongly reflected the arrival and growth of capillary electrophoresis and now of electrochromatography.The meeting this year consisted of some 30 oral presentations and over 450 posters, a significant proportion of which were late submissions enabling up-to-the moment ideas and results to be included. As in previous years, for all the participants an enduring reminder of the meeting (and a valuable reference work) will be the 2300 pages of conference summaries running to an impressive three volumes weighing over 3.5 kg. The social events in these meetings are an important component, because they bring the participants together and encourage the mingling and intellectual interac- tions often lost when a large conference is spread over a city location.Once a small meeting of 200-300 participants, it has now grown to 600-700 participants but still maintains an intimate feel with all the hotels and conference locations within walking distance. In reviewing the wide range of topics reflected in the lectures and presentations, it is impossible to describe all the new techniques and applications in detail but three themes stood out. The most exciting is the arrival of electrochromatography as a practical method followed by large volume injections in gas chromatography and the use of solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) techniques in sample preparation. While generating only a brief mention at the corresponding meeting two years ago, capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was the dominant developing technique of this meeting with a range of methods and applications being described.Unlike many new analytical methods which have come out of the US, electrochromatography has principally been developed in Europe and most of the contributions were from the Germany and the UK. It has attracted the interest of pharmaceutical companies and a valuable contribution was provided by Me1 Euerby from Astra, Loughborough, UK. Many of the original practical problems of preparing and packing capillary columns have been overcome and adapted capillary electrophoresis equipment, which can be used for CEC, can be purchased off- the-shelf. The search is now on to examine the potential applications and most appropriate combinations of stationary phases and eluents to be adopted to achieve new separations. The task of establishing its future role compared to electro- phoresis and liquid chromatography is already well under way and practical criteria such as reproducibility and robustness are already being evaluated.As always the most impressive separations were those on ion-exchange stationary phases, where the peak width is seemingly limited only by the response time of the detection system and measured efficiencies of 5-15 X 106 plates are typical. Other developments are looking at interfaces with detectors including FT-MS, alternatives to fused silica tubing, and the use of very small stationary phase particles. The second theme of large volume injections in capillary gas chromatography goes to the heart of the problem of sensitivity in capillary methods enabling much higher analyte loadings and thus greater method sensitivity.Up to 250 p1 injection volumes were being proposed on standard capillaries, with automation making this a feasible operation for routine assays. Larger volumes up to 1-2 ml could feasibly be injected with controlled injection speeds. Unlike many recent meetings when solid phase extractions (SPE) have dominated sample preparation methods, SPE methods were almost absent but nearly 40 papers were devoted to the use of SPME, in which an ODS or similar coated glass fibre traps the sample from a dilute aqueous solution. The fibre can then be directly injected into a GLC injector port avoiding the need for a solvent extraction step. Although known for many years it seems suddenly to have come of age.Methods were described for its role in the direct extraction of a wide range of analytes. A new and interesting development was the deriva- tization of extracts while on the fibre. This method enabled sterols to be trapped from solution, silylated and injected without the use of organic solvents or dilution. These reactions could also be automated using a vapour phase derivatization thus avoiding contamination of the reagent solution. Among other developments was an impressive lecture on the microfabricated chemical bench from Mike Ramsey describing the work of a large multidisciplinary research group from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA. Analytical chemistry on a chip has been felt for some time to be a method of the future and it seems that many of the promises are starting to become realities.The lecture was illustrated with examples of injections, switching valves, derivatization, separations and chromatog- raphy driven by electroosmotic flow. Reproducibility was good with 1% RSD on 100 pl injections and real applications were shown of DNA assays and enzymic reactions. As always the conference was well organized under the Chairmanship of Pat Sandra with a well planned lecture programme concentrating on invited plenary and key-note speakers, ample space and time for the poster presentations and exhibition and the weather while fine was not so hot as to be oppressive. The meeting encourages research lectures by younger participants and these were consistently of a high standard, often reflecting badly on the frequently poor slides and overheads of more established lecturers.In contrast to other Chromatography Symposia which have had to change their name to reflect changes in separation techniques ‘Capillary Chromatography, seems to be enduring well and after a visit to Wintergreen, Virginia in 1997, the meeting will return again to Riva del Garda in 1998. Roger M. Smith Loughborough UniversityPRODUtTS DESlGlED AND PRODUCED VALID ANALYTICAL AM MEASUREMENT BY ANAlYSTS FOR ANAMTS 1 RAISINQ QUALITY THROUGH THE VAM INITIATIVE VAM (Valid Analytical Measurement) is a DTI initiative, spearheaded by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC), in conjunction with the DTI in order to improve the quality of analytical measurements made in the UK, and to facilitate the mutual acceptance of analytical data across international boundaries.This is done by: defining and disseminating best analytical practice which will enable laboratories to deliver reliable developing the tools which enable laboratories to implement best analytical practice; working with analysts in other countries to ensure the comparability of analytical measurements The Royal Society of Chemistry is pleased to be working with the LGC to distribute VAM products - which include books, guidelines, videos and software - that are designed to be used by practising analysts, laboratory managers, analytical quality managers, and university lecturers and their students. results every time; across international boundaries. GUIDELINES FOR ACHIEVING QUALITY IN TRACE ANALYSIS M.Sargent & G. MacKay Presents a concise protocol that acts as a check-list of key issues for those involved in carrying out trace analysis, or who rely on the results. Softback book; 1995; ISBN 0-85404402-7; €12.50 / $22 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF N.T. Crosby & /.Patel , , GOOD SAMPLING PRACTICE A welcome reference for researchers and professionals who need to access the important information on how to sample, in the form of an instant, thorough and reliable guide. Softback book; 1995; ISBN 0-85404-412-4; f17.50 /$32 TRACE ANALYSIS: A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO OBTAINING RELIABLE RESULTS Edited by E. Pritchard, with G. MacKay & J. 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Video plus illustrated booklet; 1995; €35 (inc VAT) / $75 / Rest of World f40 VAMSTAT A computer-aided learning package for the - examples and questions and covers: basic concepts; significance tests; handling non-normal data and outliers; ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA); quality of analytical data; regression and applications. Software package (IBM or compatible); Standard single user licence €90 (+VAT) / $160; Multi-user site licence f290 (+VAT) / $520; Discounts available for academic institutions. analytical chemist. Includes techniques, practical I To order any of these products, or for more detailed information, please contact: I Jenny McCluskey, Sales & Promotion Executive Royal Society of Chemistry Thomas Graham House, Science Park Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 4WF, UK Tel +44 (0) 1223 420066 Fax +44 (0) 1223 423623 E-mail: sales@ rsc.org wwweb: http://chemistry.rsc.org/rsc/ CH EM I STRY Information Services 2 c z 2 s 9 8 I m (0 m 0 W