Ep 24: For the Love of Separation Science Analytically Speaking

In this episode, podcast co-hosts Dr. Dwight Stoll and Dr. James Grinias talk with Dr. Andre de Villiers, Professor of Chemistry at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Dr. de Villiers is an expert in multi-dimensional chromatography and leads a research program mainly focused on the use of two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detection for the deep characterization of natural products such as tea, wine, wood, and cocoa. Some of his recent work has explored the potential for ion mobility separations to increase the utility of mass spectrometric detection coupled with two-dimensional liquid chromatography separations.

In the conversation, we talk about the development of Andre’s interest in separation science as a result of a chance meeting with Pat Sandra, and the increasingly apparent “perception problem” facing the field of analytical chemistry. Finally, Dr. de Villiers shares his views on some of the most pressing challenges he sees in the work he is doing right now, including the need for better methods to separate complex mixtures of tannins in natural products, and the need for better data analysis tools in multi-dimensional separations in general.