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Chromatography Environmental

Where Non-Target Screening Still Falls Short

A new study demonstrates how combining chromatographic approaches can improve detection of the most mobile pollutants 

By James Strachan 04/20/2026 6 min read

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Non-target screening (NTS) revolutionizes environmental analysis by enabling laboratories to detect a broader array of polar compounds in water, including persistent and mobile substances (PMs) like PFAS. Jonathan Zweigle and colleagues assessed 12 chromatographic methods across four platforms (RP-LC, HILIC, SFC, and ion chromatography), revealing the necessity for multiple methods to enhance detection capabilities. Their findings indicate that the strategic combination of approaches can substantially improve analytical outcomes, crucial for grasping the risks associated with unknown fluorinated contaminants.

About the Author(s)

James Strachan

Over the course of my Biomedical Sciences degree it dawned on me that my goal of becoming a scientist didn’t quite mesh with my lack of affinity for lab work. Thinking on my decision to pursue biology rather than English at age 15 – despite an aptitude for the latter – I realized that science writing was a way to combine what I loved with what I was good at. From there I set out to gather as much freelancing experience as I could, spending 2 years developing scientific content for International Innovation, before completing an MSc in Science Communication. After gaining invaluable experience in supporting the communications efforts of CERN and IN-PART, I joined Texere – where I am focused on producing consistently engaging, cutting-edge and innovative content for our specialist audiences around the world.

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