When I first fully automated metabolomics MOX-TMS sample prep in 2007/2008, the main driver was data quality. Improved productivity, sustainability and effective use of person resource were secondary (to us), but secured the grant funding from BBSRC. @ukri.org ROI: 2x CapEx costs, 10x OpEx savings

I think the proportions on this may actually be an improvement on the original

Wikipedia article for TMS diazomethane says it’s safer than diazomethane - when I did the risk assessment we estimated that it was at least 3-4 orders of magnitude more toxic than diazomethane, toxic by all routes of administration and probably permeates nitrile gloves #ChemSky

With budgets hard to secure, upgrading your existing instrument can be an affordable and sustainable way to add to your labs capabilities. And you can catch me at #BMSS25 next month to learn more.

Anyone else have a particular bugbear about the use of ambiguous abbreviations in the organic and biochemistry lab. ACN: one person’s acrylonitrile is another one’s acetonitrile IAA: iodoacetamide or auxin? I’ve seen enough near-misses through ambiguous labelling to last a lifetime. #ChemSky

Annual hedge pruning starts today It’s ‘only’ 80ft long, and [currently] 4m high

Looking forward to the 45th BMSS meeting next month. @bmss-official.bsky.social

Calling #TeamMetabolomics UK - Spectrometrics has 3 #Metabolomics PrepStations in stock to automate the Fiehn MOX-TMS Protocol. Great for teaching metabolomics or for early career researchers wanting to automate GC-MS metabolomics. @scotmetnet.bsky.social @emn-metsoc.bsky.social @lbmsdg.bsky.social

Windows 11 casualties - has to break out the trusty Windows 10 (originally Windows 7) to run Maestro -xt and MassTransit for data file/library conversion.

🧵 Quiet covers for #MassSpec pumps help cut noise in instrument labs, but if you really want to block out noise and enhance comfort, more sound insulation (replacement ceiling tiles, acoustic screens to wall and, if your reflooring, floor, panels) can improve the working environment for your people.

The first time we hooked μpacked SFC to EI-MS, I thought the mass spectrometer was broken (then the penny dropped that there was zero column bleed). [email protected]

On the train to Brighton for #SiNS2025. Thankful air con is working, but could do with being a couple of degrees cooler.

After leaving the tea to brew, I went to take the tea bag out of the mug and realised I hadn’t put one in.

Is it really ONLY Wednesday? (recovering from a DIY weekend) #HumpDay

Weekend office tidy - usually happens during summer holidays but aiming to get ahead of the game.

On my way to install a Caloratherm for a customer who is observing a significant difference in temperature gradient on scale up from analytical to semi-prep for mRNA vaccines. Trialling it is the only sure-fire way to find out if the technology can solve the problem! [email protected]

All packed up for #BOGS2025 ready to drive down for tomorrow’s ice breaker. If you’re attending, Spectrometrics are sponsoring for the first time - we have really useful stuff for Organic Geochem that also makes your lab more sustainable!

Mini 🧵 The only principle of green analytical chemistry I have a problem with is avoid derivatization. Used correctly, derivatization allows you to miniaturise and simplify methods. Improved detection limits (orders of magnitude).

VAT on takeaway tea/coffee should be illegal - as a mass spectrometrist who used sectors and early TOFs caffeine is not even optional (let alone a luxury).

Why @nationalrail.bsky.social, did rail replacement buses and other timetable changes for East Midlands Rail this weekend only get updated on Friday? The normal timetable on the Journey Planner, and no planned engineering works was showing until (at least) Thursday evening…

What’s your best mis-labelled chemical from a supplier? I’ve had several in my career, including acetonitrile in a bottle labelled pyridine (at least better than the other way around).

A departure board of delays and my train was on time ☘️ Hopefully at Burlington House on time, even with a detour to the Post Office. #Chemsky @rsc.org

Looking forward to tomorrow’s #ARF2025 - speak to me about Spectrometrics portfolio of solutions for Sustainability in Analytical Science

This is definitely worth a listen #HarmReduction #CounterfeitMedicines www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Squirrels have worked out how to unscrew bolts on the bird feeder.

Phew... report looks like it hit the target. So wild to know other people reading it now! www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jun...

Happy Birthday GARNet: I was appointed to a PostDoc position on the GARNet Metabolite Profiling Facility 25-years ago this year. The first metabolomics facility funded by BBSRC/UKRI. Instruments purchased with the grant were a Micromass GCT and FinniganMAT LCQ. garnetcommunity.org.uk

Time for your HPLC to go green? #GreenChemistry

Is hyphenated-solid phase FTIR with parallel MS the answer to out-of-the-box annotation to meet enhanced metabolite standards initiative level 2 #MetID? [level 1 with a curated library] #Metabolomics [email protected] onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

In Berlin this week and unusually for a business trip I’ve had some time for sightseeing. Having grown up with BBC news regularly reporting from Checkpoint Charlie, an in person visit brought home the enormity of an insignificant kiosk in global geopolitics.

Did you know that if you have a LAN enabled GERSTEL MPS2-xt (with standard PAL accessories), you can keep it running beyond Windows 10 by upgrading from Maestro to Chronos control!

As I have only recently been prescribed reading glasses - it still [momentarily] confuses me when I forget to put them on and the laptop screen is unreadable with my distance glasses.

Had a great couple of days at (and sponsoring) the Technology Specialists Network in York. Great discussions on metabolomics, clinical research, cutting HPLC solvent use and using DiscovIR-GC for MetID and Chemical Ecology (in the case of the latter 3000 times faster!)

Great platform to move from biomarker discovery to routine #volatilomics

Perhaps UK universities could invest in data centres - combining solar powered green data storage and heating swimming pools? www.bbc.co.uk/news/technol...

The NHS has a critical shortage of biomedical scientists. Zivak’s online multitasker fully automates LC-MS/MS analyses freeing up [up to] three biomedical scientists (per-shift) to do more important jobs. [email protected]

Rather than import wood pellets for DRAX, we’d be better off pelleting sewage & AD cake for fuel. We can then using the ash (after heavy metal removal) as fertiliser. Better: distribute smaller power stations at sewage treatment works to eliminate the road haulage emissions. @wateruk.bsky.social

I never believed the Cadbury big lie that they hadn’t shrunk! 😉

Currently upcycling the instrument crate into a garden store for plant pots, etc next to potting table.

The delivery driver asked if it’s one giant Easter egg or many small ones?

Observation: clinical diagnostic tests may be fit for purpose for ongoing disease state monitoring, but wholly inadequate (lack specificity & sensitivity) for initial diagnosis. National regulators (NICE) are ‘blind’ to the difference when setting guidelines (against which NAB’s assess conformity).

Been a good week - I’m happy that I’ve exceeded what I’d budgeted to do, but not met the stretch target of what I’d hoped to do while pacing myself. Preferable to the same outcome from a duck week: when looking calm on the surface while paddling like heck under the water.

It’s great to get feedback from instrument users - identifying a design flaw with the PAL that’s existed since the first CombiPAL and is a straightforward fix.

If mid-IR can discriminate base differences, what more would we gain if we hyphenated LC to FTIR for oligonucleotides (and other biologics)? #Pharma pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

It always saddens me that when travelling to Europe or further afield, the choice of fruit and vegetables is much more colourful and flavourful. There’s a whole rainbow of tomato and kiwi fruit!

Well, the MSD tune looked really good until it generated the report… Getting sensible acquired data provided we don’t scan above m/z 650

Using a PAL sampler/PrepStation for metabolomics or Lipidomics? These (and the 10mL ones) are brilliant for cutting down the exclusion list in your metabolomics analysis.