Online Short Courses
Pittcon’s professional quality online Short Courses are an affordable opportunity for continuing education. All courses count towards building your Professional Hours.
Online Short Courses are offered April through November
Courses take place on Wednesdays, 1:00-3:00 PM EST
Cost: $250 per course
Please note:
- Online courses are not recorded
- One registration fee must be paid per person
The Zoom link/credentials are not to be shared with others
- There are no cancellations and/or refunds after the course notes have been emailed to the registrant
A refund may be issued prior to the distribution of course notes, minus a $10 processing fee
- A survey and certificate are provided only to those who attend the course
SEP 9
Wednesday
Applied Troubleshooting for GC & GC-MS
Diane Turner
Anthias Consulting Ltd
Track: Instrumentation & Nanoscience
This course has been approved by the Royal Society of Chemistry for purposes of Continuing Professional Development. It looks at the parts of the GC and GC-MS system requiring maintenance, going in depth into the frequency of maintenance operations and how to identify when maintenance is required. The course also looks at preparing for problems, how to identify them in the system and the step-by-step troubleshooting process. Participants will consolidate their knowledge gained through practical exercises on troubleshooting chromatograms, learning how to identify problems and determine which part of the instrument could be causing issues. Overall, there is a strong emphasis on the practical aspects of GC and GC-MS, with instrument parts to observe and handle.
Course Level: iIntermediate
Target Audience
Analytical chemists, supervisors, lab managers, and researchers who are interested in the chemical analysis of pharmaceutical and food packaging. It will benefit the scientists ranging from college graduates to professionals in the analytical field in the pharmaceutical, biotech, food, medical device, CRO and other industries.
Learning Objectives
You will learn about each part of the instrument requiring maintenance and why, when maintenance is required and how frequently maintenance is required for each instrument part and consumable. You will learn the logical steps of instrument troubleshooting and how to break the instrument down into modules. You will learn how to examine chromatograms, identify any problems seen and determine which part of the instrument could be the cause and gain practical experience of this process.
Course Outline
The course covers in detail the parts of the system requiring maintenance and the logical steps of troubleshooting, covering: GC Maintenance: Gases & plumbing Autosamplers Inlets Columns GC detectors MS maintenance: Air & water checks & tuning MS parts PC maintenance Suggested maintenance schedules Logical troubleshooting Problem areas: Samples Gases & plumbing Autosamplers Inlets Columns GC detectors Leaks Mass spectrometer vacuum Mass spectrometer sensitivity General problems: Chromatogram examination Contamination Sensitivity Retention time shifts
OCT 14
Wednesday
Accurate Analysis by Mass Spectrometry–LC/MS and Interpretation of Mass Spectra of Unknowns and Small Molecules
Michael Thurman
University of Colorado
Track: Environment & Energy
This is a redesigned course 2025 on the interpretation of electrospray mass spectra for small molecules. The course now focuses on accurate mass. Firstly, on the different types of instrumentation and the wide variety of instruments and their pros and cons. Indepth discussion of both accuracy and resolving power and how it is used to do unknowns and target compounds. The course delves into AI software to help identify unknowns using libraries, databases, in silico fragmentation with little or no help from the user. These new tools promise to be a big help for beginners and intermediate users of accurate mass. Secondly, is the understanding of fragmentation and MS-MS spectra. The course delves into many aspects of the rules of fragmentation, such as the Nitrogen rule, the Even Electron rule, and many heuristics or rules of thumb for understanding mass spectra, both accurate and nominal mass. Lastly, the course discusses many examples from three fields of study. 1. The environmental field with examples such as PFAS, hydraulic fracturing, pesticides and pharmaceuticals in water and soil. 2. The pharmaceutical industry and metabolite identification. 3. Natural products, such as hemp and THC analysis. Finally, the student will have a well rounded and clear understanding of how to buy, use, and benefit from accurate mass analysis.
Course Level: Intermediate
Target Audience
1. Users of mass spectrometry instruments, such as students, technologists, and research scientists in the environmental, pharmaceutical, and natural product chemistry 2. Lab directors who purchase and oversee mass spectrometry instruments 3. Chemists interested in getting into accurate mass analysis but are reluctant due to the learning curve.
Learning Objectives
1. To be able to wisely purchase an accurate mass instrument both LC/MS and GC/MS, including software. 2. To be able to understand mass spectra for accurate mass and determine unknowns 3. Basic understanding of MS-MS fragmentation and how to use AI software for unknown analysis 4. Take home examples to study.
Course Outline
Lecture 1. Introduction to Accurate Mass: Discussion of the various instruments for accurate mass including LC/QTOF, GC/QTOF, LC/TOF, GC/TOF, and LC and GC Orbitraps. Discussion includes pros and cons of each instrument and how to get the best bang for your buck when buying and instrument. Lecture 2. How accurate mass is measured and how to use accurate mass for unknown analysis–Introduction to the 5 step procedure for unknown analysis. Lecture 3. Interpretation of accurate mass spectra with emphasis on MS-MS and unknown analysis. Lecture 4. Introduction to AI software for MS-MS analysis and unknown identification-Libraries, Databases, and in-silicio fragmentation Lecture 5. Examples of Unknowns from the environmental, pharmaceutical, and natural product areas of study. Lecture 6. Continuation of examples Lecture 7. Discussion of unknown analysis from the students and practice examples with actual accurate mass MS/MS spectra
NOV 9
Wednesday
Industrial Problem Solving Using Thermal Analysis Techniques
Anthony Parker
A. A. Parker Consulting, LLC
Track: Instrumentation & Nanoscience
This comprehensive course emphasizes the practical applications of thermal analysis techniques in real-world problem-solving situations (commonly experienced in industrial and academic work environments). A brief background of the most common TA methods will be provided, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Case studies will be presented illustrating how these techniques can be collectively used to solve industrial process and product development problems.
Course Level: Intermediate
Target Audience
This course emphasizes practical applications and real-world problem-solving situations (commonly found in industrial and academic environments). The subject matter is appropriate for technical professionals and managers with academic backgrounds in all fields of chemistry. Prior thermal analysis experience is not required.
Learning Objectives
Learn about the basic techniques – DSC, TGA, TGA-MS, TMA, and DMA; Learn how to use multiple techniques in tandem to solve process and performance problems in product development – examples include composites, coatings, and process studies; Learn how to identify the nature of transitions in polymeric materials; Learn about the principles of time-temperature-equivalence and applications; Develop an appreciation for when to use a particular TA technique.
Course Outline
`- Introduction – DSC Experimental Issues Thermal and Process History Modulated DSC Cp Kinetics ASTM E698 Iso vs Dynamic Physical aging Additives & melt transitions Case Studies – TGA Expt. Issues Kinetics Adhesives; Catalyst Stability Case Studies: ZnO and silanes on alumina (TGA/MS + other techniques) – TMA Expt. Issues Applications Thermal Expansion & Process History Case Studies – DMA Fixed freq., creep, stress relaxation Mechanical models Linear viscoelasticity, thermal & process history Error Transitions Tg vs. glassy state motion NMR and Tg Time temp. superposition & time-temperature-equivalence WLF, free volume Case Studies – Combined Case Studies & Problem Solving Materials Development Composites and filled polymers Coatings Epoxies and Adhesives Problems from course participants