Non‐polar lipids characterization of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) seed by comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization/mass spectrometry detection and non‐aqueous reversed‐phase liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry detection

A chemical characterization of major lipid components, namely, triacylglycerols, fatty acids and the unsaponifiable fraction, in a Quinoa seed lipids sample is reported. To tackle such a task, non‐aqueous reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection was employed. The latter was interfaced with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for the analysis of triacylglycerols. The main triacylglycerols (>10%) were represented by OLP, OOL and OLL (P = palmitoyl, O = oleoyl, L = linoleoyl); the latter was present in the oil sample at the highest percentage (18.1%). Furthermore, fatty acid methyl esters were evaluated by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. 89% of the total fatty acids was represented by unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters with the greatest percentage represented by linoleic and oleic acids accounting for approximately 48 and 28%, respectively. An extensive characterization of the unsaponifiable fraction of Quinoa seed lipids was performed for the first time, by using comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography with dual mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection. Overall, 66 compounds of the unsaponifiable fraction were tentatively identified, many constituents of which (particularly sterols) were confirmed by using gas chromatography with high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry.     

Determination of Trace Levels of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Aviation Fuel by GC × GC–FID and Comparison with the Reference GC–MS Method

Due to the negative impact of the presence of fatty acid methyl esters in kerosene for the aviation industry, in this work a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography method with flame ionization detector for the determination of trace levels of fatty acid methyl esters in kerosene was developed. It is based on the use of a first dimension polar column and a second dimension non-polar column. Identification of fatty acid methyl esters is based on retention times and the external standard calibration is used for quantitation. Results were compared with those obtained from the GC–MS reference method; good recoveries, close to 100 %, and limit of detection in a range from 3 to 6 μg kg⁻¹ were found without requiring a specific detector.

     

Analysis of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Analysis of polyunsaturated fatty acids using high performance liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry is described. The standard fatty acid methyl esters from 16 to 22 carbons were analyzed by LC‐MS with APCI. The effect of orifice voltage and total carbon atoms versus number of double bonds in each homologue on the mass spectra is discussed. The correction coefficients for homologues from saturated fatty acids to hexaenoic acid are also mentioned.     

Determination of methyl methanesulfonate and ethyl methanesulfonate in methanesulfonic acid by derivatization followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection

Methanesulfonic acid is routinely used in pharmaceuticals but can contain potentially genotoxic impurities such as methyl methanesulfonate and ethyl methanesulfonate. The aim of this study was to develop a simple high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection method for determining methyl methanesulfonate and ethyl methanesulfonate in methanesulfonic acid. Samples (250 mg) in water/acetonitrile (200 μL) were first combined with 10.0 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution (270 μL). Then they were mixed with 2.0 mg/mL N ,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (500 μL), diluted to 5 mL with N ,N‐dimethylacetamide and allowed to react at 80°C for 1 h. The derivatives were analyzed using gradient high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (277 nm) and structurally elucidated by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. With acetonitrile/5 mmol/L ammonium acetate solution as the eluent and 1 mL/min as the flow rate on a C18 column, the derivatives were eluted at 10.6 and 14.8 min. Good linearity (correlation coefficients > 0.999) and low limits of quantitation (0.6 ppm) were obtained. The recoveries were in the range of 80–115% with relative standard deviation < 5.0%. Finally, the established method was successfully used for the determination of methyl methanesulfonate and ethyl methanesulfonate in methanesulfonic acid.     

Comparison of different injection modes in edible oil minor components analysis

Waxes and fatty acid alkyl esters are minor components used as official parameters to control the authenticity and quality of a high‐value olive oil product. A poor measurement can lead to a misleading classification of the oil. The official method requires their analysis together by capillary gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector and an on‐column injector to avoid discrimination and thermal degradation. The degradation can occur to a different extent if different (and not properly optimized) injectors are used. However, other injection techniques, such as programmed‐temperature vaporizer, are much more versatile and more widespread. The aim of the present work was to compare the performance of a programmed‐temperature vaporizer injector, in on‐column and splitless mode, with the on‐column injector to analyze alkyl esters and waxes. Discrimination among high‐boiling compounds was evaluated, as well as the occurrence of thermal degradation, especially of sterols and diterpene alcohol (phytyl and geranylgeraniol) esters. A proper optimization of a programmed‐temperature vaporizer injection, with particular attention to the liner selection, was proven to provide comparable results to the traditional on‐column injection. A performance comparison was carried out both on standard mixtures and on real oil samples.     

Temperature‐programmed multicapillary gas chromatograph microcolumn for the analysis of odorous sulfur pollutants

We report the fabrication and performance of a silicon‐on‐glass micro gas chromatography eight‐capillary column based on microelectromechanical systems technology that is 50 cm long, 30 μm wide, and 300 μm deep. According to the theory of a gas chromatography column, an even gas flow among different capillaries play a vital role in the peak broadening. Thus, a flow splitter structure is designed by the finite element method through the comparison of the velocity distributions of the eight‐capillary columns with and without splitter as well as an open tubular column. The simulation results reveal that eight‐capillary column with flow splitters can receive more uniform flow velocity in different capillaries, hence decreases the peak broadening and in turn increases the separation efficiency. The separation experiment results show that the separation efficiency of about 22 000 plates/m is achieved with the chip column temperature programmed for analysis of odorous sulfur pollutants. This figure is nearly two times higher than that of the commercial capillary column coated the similar stationary phase. And the separation time of all the components in the microcolumn is less than 3.8 min, which is faster than the commercial capillary column.     

Phenomenon of dual‐ and single‐retention behaviors of solutes and its validation by computational simulation in linear programmed temperature gas chromatography

The current theory of programmed temperature gas chromatography considers that solutes are focused by the stationary phase at the column head completely and does not explicitly recognize the different effects of initial temperature (T_o) and heating rate (r_T) on the retention time or temperature of a homologue series. In the present study, n‐alkanes, 1‐alkenes, 1‐alkyl alcohols, alkyl benzenes, and fatty acid methyl esters standards were used as model chemicals and were separated on two nonpolar columns, one moderately polar column and one polar column. Effects of T_o and r_T on the retention of nonstationary phase focusing solutes can be explicitly described with isothermal and cubic equation models, respectively. When the solutes were in the stationary phase focusing status, the single‐retention behavior of solutes was observed. It is simple, dependent upon r_T only and can be well described by the cubic equation model that was visualized through four sequential slope analyses. These observed dual‐ and single‐retention behaviors of solutes were validated by various experimental data, physical properties, and computational simulation.     

Quantification of trace fatty acid methyl esters in diesel fuel by using multidimensional gas chromatography with electron and chemical ionization mass spectrometry

Measurement of contamination of marine and naval diesel fuels (arising from product mixing or adulteration) with biodiesel or fatty acid methyl esters can be problematic, especially at very low levels. A suitable solution for this task for trace amounts of individual fatty acid methyl esters with resolution and quantification can be achieved by using a multidimensional gas chromatographic approach with electron and chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection. A unique column set comprising a 100 m methyl‐siloxane nonpolar first dimension column and high‐temperature ionic liquid column in the second dimension enabled identification of individual fatty acid methyl esters at below the lowest concentrations required to be reported in a diesel fuel matrix. Detection limits for individual fatty acid methyl esters compounds ranged from 0.5 to 5.0 mg/L, with excellent linearity up to 5000 mg/L and repeatability of the method from 1.3 to 3.2%. The method was applied to the analysis of diesel fuel samples with suspected biodiesel contamination. Contamination at 568 mg/L was calculated for an unknown sample and interpretation of the results permitted the determination of a likely source of the contamination.     

Two methods for the separation of monounsaturated octadecenoic acid isomers

The identification and quantification of complex mixtures of cis and trans octadecenoic (18:1) fatty acid isomers presents a major challenge for conventional one-dimensional GC/FID analysis of their methyl esters. We have compared the use of two methods to achieve optimized separations of positional and geometrical octadecenoic fatty acid isomers—comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), and silver ion high performance liquid chromatography interfaced to atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) mass spectrometry. Nine isomers of octadecenoic acid methyl ester were well separated on a single silver ion column with a mobile phase of 0.018% acetonitrile and 0.18% isopropanol in hexane. Reproducible retention times were obtained with relative standard deviations of around 1% over 5 injections. The extra selectivity and reproducibility afforded by APPI-MS, together with the wide separation of cis and trans isomers by silver ion chromatography, resulted in a promising method for measurement of octadecenoic acid FAME. The GC × GC separation was performed using various column combinations, and optimal separation was obtained by coupling an ionic liquid column (Supelco SLB-IL100 [1,9-di(3-vinyl-imidazolium) nonane bis(trifluoromethyl) sulfonyl imidate]) in the first dimension with a SGE BPX50 (50% phenyl polysilphenylene-siloxane) in the second dimension. These methods have been applied to the analysis of octadecenoic acid in milk and beef fat.     

Preparation of an acryloyl β‐cyclodextrin‐silica hybrid monolithic column and its application in pipette tip solid‐phase extraction and HPLC analysis of methyl parathion and fenthion

An acryloyl β‐cyclodextrin‐silica hybrid monolithic column for pipette tip solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography determination of methyl parathion and fenthion has been prepared through a sol–gel polymerization method. The synthesis conditions, including the volume of cross‐linker and the ratio of inorganic solution to organic solution, were optimized. The prepared monolithic column was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The eluent type, volume and flow rate, sample volume, flow rate, acidity, and ionic strength were optimized in detail. Under the optimized conditions, a simple and sensitive pipette tip solid‐phase extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the determination of methyl parathion and fenthion in lettuce. The method yielded a linear calibration curve in the concentration ranges of 15–400 μg/kg for methyl parathion and 20–400 μg/kg for fenthion with correlation coefficients of above 0.9957. The limits of detection were 4.5 μg/kg for methyl parathion and 6.0 μg/kg for fenthion, respectively. The recoveries of methyl parathion and fenthion spiked in lettuce ranged from 96.0 to 104.2% with relative standard deviations less than 8.4%.     

Separation and determination of polyurethane amine catalysts in polyether polyols by using UHPLC–Q‐TOF‐MS on a reversed‐phase/cation‐exchange mixed‐mode column

A simple, selective, and accurate ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method was established and validated for the efficient separation and quantification of polyurethane amine catalysts in polyether polyols. Amine catalysts were primarily separated in polyether polyol‐based sample by solid‐phase extraction, and further baseline separated on a reversed‐phase/cation‐exchange mixed‐mode column (SiELC Primesep™ 200) using 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid/acetonitrile as a mobile phase in gradient elution mode at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. High‐resolution quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analysis in electrospray ionization positive mode allowed the identification as N,N′‐bis[3‐(dimethylamino)propyl]urea, N‐[2‐(2‐dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]‐N‐methyl‐1,3‐propanediamine, and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyldipropylenetriamine. The method was validated and presented good linearity for all the analytes in blank matrices within the concentration range of 0.20–5.0 or 0.1–2.0 μg/mL with the correlation coefficients (R²) ranging from 0.986 to 0.997. Method recovery ranged within 81–105% at all three levels (80, 100, and 120% of the original amount) with relative standard deviations of 1.0–6.2%. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.007–0.051 μg/mL. Good precision was obtained with relative standard deviation below 3.2 and 0.72% for peak area and retention time of three amines, respectively.     

Optimizing the relationship between chromatographic efficiency and retention times in temperature‐programmed gas chromatography

A methodology that can maximise the chromatographic efficiency that can be achieved within a defined time frame in temperature‐programmed gas chromatography is described. The efficiency can be defined as the inverse of peak widths measured in retention index units. This parameter can be described by a model similar to the van Deemter equation, which is expanded to account for the effect of the temperature rate in addition to the effect of carrier gas velocity. The model of efficiency is found by response surface methodology, where the temperature rates and the carrier gas velocities are systematically varied in the experiments. A second model that accurately explains the retention time of the last eluting compound can be found from the same experiments, and optimal conditions are found by combining the two models. The methodology has been evaluated with four capillary columns and three carrier gases, using fatty acid methyl esters as analytes. All experiments showed that there is a fairly linear decrease in efficiency with increasing temperature rates. At any temperature rate, optimal velocity is only marginally higher than the velocity that maximises chromatographic efficiency, since the carrier gas velocity has a limited effect on the retention times.     

Preparation of a monolithic column with a mixed‐mode stationary phase of reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction for capillary liquid chromatography

A monolithic capillary column with a mixed‐mode stationary phase of reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction chromatography was prepared for capillary liquid chromatography. The monolith was created by an in‐situ copolymerization of a homemade monomer N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐acryloxyundecyl‐N‐(3‐sulfopropyl) ammonium betaine and a crosslinker pentaerythritol triacrylate in a binary porogen agent consisting of methanol and isopropanol. The functional monomer was designed to have a highly polar zwitterionic sulfobetaine terminal group and a hydrophobic long alkyl chain moiety. The composition of the polymerization solution was systematically optimized to permit the best column performance. The columns were evaluated by using acidic, basic, polar neutral analytes, as well as a set of alkylbenzenes and Triton X100. Very good separations were obtained on the column with the mixed‐mode stationary phase. It was demonstrated that the mixed‐mode stationary phase displayed typic dual retention mechanisms of reversed‐phase/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography depending on the content of acetonitrile in the mobile phase. The method for column preparation is reproducible.     

Large‐scale isolation of high‐purity anthocyanin monomers from mulberry fruits by combined chromatographic techniques

Anthocyanins have attracted attention over the past several decades because of their beneficial health effects. In this research, a strategy combining column chromatography and high‐speed countercurrent chromatography was developed for the separation of high‐purity anthocyanin monomers from mulberry fruits. After purification using Amberlite XAD‐7HP column with 80% ethanol (0.1% HCl), a fraction of anthocyanins mixtures with a purity of 68.6% was obtained. High‐speed countercurrent chromatography with a biphasic solvent system of n‐butanol/methyl tert‐butyl ether/acetonitrile/water/trifluoroacetic acid (30:10:10:50:0.05, v/v) was used to separate the anthocyanin monomers. Three monomers of delphinidin‐3‐O‐ rutinoside, cyanidin‐3‐O‐ rutinoside, and cyanidin‐3‐O‐ glucoside were obtained, and identified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and high‐performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry. The method developed in this work can be used to conduct large‐scale separations of anthocyanin monomers from mulberry fruits and other plants.     

非水反相高效液相色谱-气相色谱法分析苏子油甘油三酯的组成

苏子油是目前已知α－亚麻酸含量最高的植物物种。首次对苏子油甘油三酯主要组分的组成结构进行了研究。非水反相高效液相色谱和气相色谱的结合为油脂中甘油三酯的分离分析提供了一个简便准确的方法。     

Determination of 19 sulfonamides residues in pork samples by combining QuEChERS with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by UHPLC–MS/MS

A new simple and rapid pretreatment method for simultaneous determination of 19 sulfonamides in pork samples was developed through combining the QuEChERS method with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The sample preparation involves extraction/partitioning with QuEChERS method followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction using tetrachloroethane as extractive solvent and the acetonitrile extract as dispersive solvent that obtained by QuEChERS. The enriched tetrachloroethane organic phase by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was evaporated, reconstituted with 100 μL acetonitrile/water (1:9 v/v) and injected into an ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 0.1% v/v formic acid under gradient elution and separated using a BHE C₁₈ column. Various parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated. Matrix‐matched calibration curves were established. Good linear relationships were obtained for all analytes in a range of 2.0–100 μg/kg and the limits of detection were 0.04–0.49 μg/kg. Average recoveries at three spiking levels were in the range of 78.3–106.1% with relative standard deviations less than 12.7% (n = 6). The developed method was successfully applied to determine sulfonamide residues in pork samples.     

Poly(l‐lactic acid)‐modified silica stationary phase for reversed‐phase and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography

Poly(l ‐lactic acid) is a linear aliphatic thermoplastic polyester that can be produced from renewable resources. A poly(l ‐lactic acid)‐modified silica stationary phase was newly prepared by amide bond reaction between amino groups on aminopropyl silica and carboxylic acid groups at the end of the poly(l ‐lactic acid) chain. The poly(l ‐lactic acid)‐silica column was characterized in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with the use of different mobile phase compositions. The poly(l ‐lactic acid)‐silica column was found to work in both modes, and the retention of test compounds depending on acetonitrile content exhibited “U‐shaped” curves, which was an indicator of reversed‐phase liquid chromatography/hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mixed‐mode retention behavior. In addition, carbonyl groups included into the poly(l ‐lactic acid) backbone work as an electron‐accepting group toward a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and provide π–π interactions.     

Automatic on‐line solid‐phase extraction with ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of ten antipsychotics in human plasma

An automatic on‐line solid‐phase extraction with ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous determination of ten antipsychotics in human plasma. The plasma sample after filtration was injected directly into the system without any pretreatment. A Shim‐pack MAYI‐C₈ (G) column was used as a solid‐phase extraction column, and all the analytes were separated on a Shim‐pack XR‐ODS III column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% v/v formic acid in water with 5 mM ammonium acetate and acetonitrile. The method features were systematically investigated, including extraction conditions, desorption conditions, the equilibration solution, the valve switching time, and the dilution for column‐head stacking. Under the optimized conditions, the whole analysis procedure took only 10 min. The limits of quantitation were in the range of 0.00321–2.75 μg/L and the recoveries ranged from 75.9 to 122%. Compared with the off‐line ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and the reported methods, this validated on‐line method showed significant advantages such as minimal pretreatment, shortest analysis time, and highest sensitivity. The results indicated that this automatic on‐line method was rapid, sensitive, and reliable for the determination of antipsychotics in plasma and could be extended to other target analytes in biological samples.     

Ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantitation of five phthalides in rat plasma: Application to a comparative pharmacokinetic study of Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan and herb‐pair extract

A fast, sensitive, and reliable ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation and pharmacokinetic study of five phthalides (senkyunolide A, ligustilide, butylidenephthalide, 3‐butylphthalide, and levistilide A) in rat plasma after oral administration of Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan (HLXLD) or Angelica sinensis‐‐Ligusticum chuanxiong herb pair (DG‐CX) between normal and arthritis rats. After extraction from blood, the analytes and internal standard were subjected to ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with a Shim‐pack XR‐ODS column (75 × 3.0 mm², 2.2 μm particles) and mobile phase was composed of methanol and water (containing 0.05% formic acid) under gradient elution conditions, with an electrospray ionization source in the positive ionization and multiple reaction monitoring mode. The lower limits of quantification were 0.192–0.800 ng/mL for all the analytes. Satisfactory linearity, precision, accuracy, mean extraction recovery, and acceptable matrix effect have been achieved. The validated method was successfully applied to a comparative pharmacokinetic study of five bioactive components in rat plasma after oral administration of HLXLD or DG‐CX alone, respectively, between normal and arthritic rats. The results showed that there were unlike characters of pharmacokinetics among different groups.     

Temperature‐Programmed Packed Capillary Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Temperature‐programmed packed capillary liquid chromatography has been coupled off‐line to Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, utilizing a commercially available interface with a pneumatic nebulizer rebuilt to handle low flow rates at elevated temperatures. The modified interface showed excellent performance with regard to non‐aqueous reversed phase separations of polymer additives, resulting in constructed Gram‐Schmidt chromatograms comparable to chromatograms obtained using UV detection. The spray of the in‐house constructed nebulizer was not influenced by temperature changes of the column effluent, and hence temperature‐programmed gradient separations could be used successfully. The relative standard deviation of peak height was 4.4% (n = 5) and the mass limit of detection was determined to be about 40 ng, using a polymer antioxidant as model compound. The present instrumental coupling has been used for characterization of the antioxidant Irgafos P‐EPQ.