{"podcast":{"title":"Concentrating on Chromatography","slug":"concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959","podcast_index_feed_id":7157959,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fd632380/podcast/rss","website_url":"https://concentratingonchromatography.com","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/42411328/42411328-1731191904094-fc5e6d90497be.jpg","author":"David Oliva","episode_count":62,"summary":"Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959"},"episode":{"title":"Episode 43: Detecting Haloacetic Acids in Water with GC-MS | Method Development, Pools, & Real-World Challenges","slug":"episode-43-detecting-haloacetic-acids-in-water-with-gc-ms-method-development-pools-real-world-challenges","published_at":"2026-01-29T12:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959/episode-43-detecting-haloacetic-acids-in-water-with-gc-ms-method-development-pools-real-world-challenges","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chromatography/episodes/Episode-43-Detecting-Haloacetic-Acids-in-Water-with-GC-MS--Method-Development--Pools---Real-World-Challenges-e3e44to","audio_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/fd632380/podcast/play/114479480/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-0-24%2F416738109-44100-2-f8f2f9ca9f29e.m4a","summary":"Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine or bromine reacts with organic matter in water—and some are linked to serious health concerns. In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Jessica Whitehouse, MSc student at the University of Calgary, to discuss how she developed a GC-MS method to detect and quantify HAAs in real-world water samples.During her undergraduate research at Thompson Rivers University, Jessica tackled a major challenge faced by many academic labs: how to analyze regulated environmental contaminants without access to GC-ECD instrumentation. Using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, derivatization, and GC-MS, she built a faster, more accessible workflow—and applied it to tap water, swimming pools, and hot tubs.In this conversation, we cover:* What haloacetic acids are and why they matter* Why standard EPA methods can be difficult for smaller or teaching-focused labs* How GC-MS can be adapted for HAA analysis* The challenges of derivatization and temperature program optimization* Unexpected findings in brominated vs. chlorinated HAAs* Why pool and hot tub water can show surprisingly high HAA levels* The excitement (and frustration) of first-time method development* Advice for undergraduate and early-career analytical chemistsJessica also shares how this project led directly to her current MSc research on ozone and nanobubble water disinfection, where she’s now expanding into ion chromatography.Whether you work in **environmental analysis, chromatography, GC-MS, or are just starting your journey in analytical chemistry**, this episode offers practical insight into real lab constraints, method development, and the joy of finding your first analyte peak.🔬 Topics: GC-MS, haloacetic acids, water a…","meta_description":"Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine or bromine reacts with organic matter in water—and some are linked to serious hea…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1046,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959/episodes/episode-43-detecting-haloacetic-acids-in-water-with-gc-ms-method-development-pools-real-world-challenges/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography-7157959/episode-43-detecting-haloacetic-acids-in-water-with-gc-ms-method-development-pools-real-world-challenges.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}