Several members of the HSLL laboratory participated in the 21st WUM Analytical Expertise Forum (WUM 2026) dedicated mainly to users of Waters analytical instrumentation and software. The event, organized by Labtim in collaboration with Waters Corporation, brought together researchers, industry specialists, and technology developers to exchange knowledge and share practical applications of advanced analytical solutions. The forum provides a platform for sharing practical applications, methodological developments, and hands-on experience with analytical technologies, as well as for networking within the wider Waters user community.
As part of the laboratory’s participation, PhD student Špela Pok was invited by the organizers to deliver a presentation as a “Customer Success Story”. In her talk, “From Surface to Spectrum: Exploring Solvent Influence on DESI-MS Analysis”, she presented research on solvent effects in desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS; Waters Corporation), where solvent choice plays a critical role in the ionization process and can induce ligand substitution phenomena, particularly relevant in coordination chemistry systems. The study combined DESI with high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry to elucidate ion structures and fragmentation pathways in copper(II) acetate, demonstrating how an integrated MS/MS approach enables deeper insight into complex chemical systems.
In addition to the invited talk, other members of HSLL also attended the forum, contributing to discussions and further strengthening connections within the Waters user community. Overall, participation in WUM 2026 provided an excellent opportunity to present research activities to an international audience, exchange experience with users from different sectors, and further strengthen collaboration between our laboratory and industry.
Collaboration with industry is an important aspect of HSLL activities and we are very pleased to be able to support our partners and jointly develop not just applications but also analytical technologies.
