Abstract: A sample may be prepared and then analyzed using a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry system to determine presence and concentration of herbicide(s) present in the sample. In some examples, the method involves providing a sample containing one or more herbicides and adding a base to the sample. The base may increase the pH of the sample to ?12, thereby hydrolyzing esters of the one or more herbicides. The method may further involve, subsequent to hydrolyzing the esters of the one or more herbicides, adding an acid to the sample so as to lower the pH of the sample to ?3. Once prepared, the sample can be injected into a liquid chromatography instrument to separate the herbicide molecules from other molecules present in the sample before being ionized and characterized by mass-to-charge ratio and relative abundance using one or more mass spectrometers.

Abstract: Techniques for alerting for instruments that transfer physical samples are disclosed. An alarm module, placed within a communication pathway of a first chemical processor and a second chemical processor, includes a timer configured to count time elapsed since receiving, from the first chemical processor, a transfer-ready signal indicating that 1) the first chemical processor received a receive-ready signal from the second chemical processor; ii) the first chemical processor has completed processing a chemical analyte; and iii) the first chemical processor is ready to physically transfer the chemical analyte to the second chemical processor. Upon receiving the transfer-ready signal from the first chemical processor, the timer is restarted. An alarm triggers when the elapsed time counted by the timer exceeds a specified threshold. The alarm is audible or visual. Upon the triggering of an alarm, an alert notification (e.g., an email, a text message, etc.) is transmitted.