Analysis of the volatile components of cheddar cheese by direct thermal desorption-GC x GC-TOF/MS

Volatile compounds were isolated from Cheddar cheese using direct thermal desorption (DTD) and analysed using comprehensive 2-D GC (GC x GC) coupled with TOF MS (TOF/MS). In total 12 aldehydes, 13 acids, 13 ketones, 5 alcohols, 3 hydrocarbons and 9 miscellaneous compounds were identified at desorption temperatures of 100, 150, 200 and 250 degrees C using mature Cheddar cheese. A temperature of 150 degrees C was found to be optimum for the DTD of volatiles from mature Cheddar cheese. The major components were acetic acid, butanoic acid, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone and 2,3-butanediol. A DTD temperature of 150 degrees C was used to observe the effect of maturation (mild, medium or mature) on the volatiles of Cheddar cheese. The major components of the volatiles of mild, medium and mature Cheddar cheese were almost the same. However, their percentage compositions were found to change with the stage of maturity. DTD is simple, fast and requires only a small amount of sample (approximately 10 mg) and works well with comprehensive GC x GC-TOF/MS. Comprehensive GC also separated a number of components which remained overlapped on the single column, such as octane and hexanal.     

气提吸附／热脱附／气相色谱－质谱法分析污水中的痕量有机物

采用气提吸附／热脱附／气相色谱－质谱法对齐鲁公司所处地区工业污水进行分析。方法采用Ｔｅｎａｘ－ＧＣ吸附剂对样品进行气提吸附，脱附时样品直接进入色谱仪汽化室，一次进样即可完成全组分分析，共检测出含四氯丙醚在内的４０种有机组分，测定了各组分的程序升温保留指数。气相色谱－质谱法测定出四氯丙醚三个异构体的结构。     

Direct thermal desorption in the analysis of cheese volatiles by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: comparison with simultaneous distillation-extraction and dynamic headspace

Direct thermal desorption (DTD) has been used as a technique for extracting volatile components of cheese as a preliminary step to their gas chromatographic (GC) analysis. In this study, it is applied to different cheese varieties: Camembert, blue, Chaumes, and La Serena. Volatiles are also extracted using other techniques such as simultaneous distillation-extraction and dynamic headspace. Separation and identification of the cheese components are carried out by GC-mass spectrometry. Approximately 100 compounds are detected in the examined cheeses. The described results show that DTD is fast, simple, and easy to automate; requires only a small amount of sample (approximately 50 mg); and affords quantitative information about the main groups of compounds present in cheeses.     

Application of direct thermal desorption gas chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry for analysis of organic compounds in ambient aerosol particles

Semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC) associated with ambient particles smaller than 2.5 microm (PM2.5) were determined in the city of Augsburg, Germany. Daily samples were collected at a central monitoring station from late summer 2002 to spring 2005. SVOC were analysed by direct thermal desorption (DTD)-GC and comprehensive 2-D GC coupled to TOF MS (DTD-GC-TOF MS and DTD-GC x GC-TOF MS). Two hundred compounds were quantified and 'semi-quantified' on a daily basis by DTD-GC-TOF MS. n-Alkanes, n-alkan-2-ones, n-alkanoic acid methyl esters, acetic acid esters, n-alkanoic acid amides, nitriles, linear alkylbenzenes and 2-alkyl-toluenes, hopanes, PAH, alkylated PAH and oxidised PAH, and several compounds that are not-grouped in homologous rows or compound classes were determined. Changes in concentration and pattern of several target compounds as well as methodological advantages and restrictions of DTD-GC-TOF MS are briefly discussed. DTD-GC-TOF MS analysis provided data particularly suited for source receptor modelling and epidemiological time series studies on the health effects of ambient PM. GC x GC enhances chromatographic resolution of PM samples and therefore amplifies the peak identification capabilities of the TOF MS.     

Composition of Eucalyptus camaldulensis volatiles using direct thermal desorption coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry

The direct qualification and quantitation of the volatile organic components of four Eucalyptus camaldulensis fruit samples, obtained from different geographical areas in Turkey, is studied using a direct thermal desorption (DTD) technique coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. It is found that the E. camaldulensis sample from Adrasan gave a slightly higher oil yield (1.18%) than the others. The number of components quantitatively identified from Adrasan, Belek, Kuyucak, and Cesme were 46, 54, 55, and 59, respectively. The main compounds found in the volatile oils were: aromadendrene (6.45-15.02%), eucalyptol (0.17-12.61%), gamma-gurjunene (8.40-10.08%), terpinolen (1.98-8.39%), spathulenol (1.42-8.34%), alpha-pinene (0.85-6.81%), ledene (0.94-6.72%), and longifonene (0.07-6.22%). The composition of the volatiles desorbed from samples from all four different areas varied qualitatively and quantitatively. All identified compounds were quantitated using total ion chromatogram peak areas. DTD is a good method for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of complex mixtures, and in particular for quantitative analysis of plant samples, which can yield data without the traditional obligation for costly and time consuming extraction techniques.     

Application of a thermal desorption cold trap injector to multidimensional GC and GC-MS

The Thermal desorption Cold Trap injector (TCT) was used as a part of modified multidimensional GC (MDGC) or MDGC mass spectroscopy (MS) systems. These systems were based on a preparative GC (GC1), an analytical GC (GC2), or GC-MS and the TCT. The TCT was mounted on the GC2 or GC-MS. Analysis was carried out as follows: first, the volatile compounds heart-cut after separation on the GC1 column were adsorbed onto the Porapak Q column out of the GC1 oven. This Porapak Q column was then coupled to the TCT, and the volatile compounds adsorbed on the Porapak Q were thermally desorbed, cold trapped, and injected onto an analytical column in the GC2 or GC-MS. Repeatability of the retention time (RT) and area % of model samples consisting of citronellol, decanol, and geranyl acetate was examined. Also, the volatile compounds present at very low concentrations in ethanol solution were concentrated on the Porapak Q column. These were injected onto the analytical column by the same method as described above, and the repeatability of the RT and area % on the chromatogram was examined. In the two experiments, the standard deviation of the RT and area % for each compound was about 0.02 and less than 2.85, respectively. A commercial geranium oil was successfully analyzed by this technique. The results indicate that this modified MDGC and MDGC-MS system are very useful for detection and determination of compounds in complex mixtures.     

Comparison of direct thermal desorption with water distillation and superheated water extraction for the analysis of volatile components of Rosa damascena Mill. using GCxGC-TOF/MS

The composition of the volatile components from Rosa damascena Mill. was investigated using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS). The samples were collected from Turkey and were extracted by water distillation (WD), superheated water extraction (SWE) and direct thermal desorption (DTD). It was found that superheated water extraction gave a slightly higher oil yield than water distillation. The major compounds found in volatiles of R. damascena Mill. were linalool, phenylethylalcohol, citronellol, nerol and geraniol. Phenylethylalcohol content was significantly higher using the DTD (36.52%) and SWE (38.14%) techniques compared to the WD (1.92%) technique. A lower content of monoterpene alcohols was found in volatiles extracted using the DTD method (73.69%) compared to the SWE (86.51%) and WD (86.56%) techniques reflecting the main finding that DTD extracts showed a greater total number of different components than either of the other two methods. The number of volatile components identified with a percentage higher than 0.05% were 54, 37, and 34 for the DTD, SWE and WD techniques, respectively. This highlighted DTD as a promising method for qualitative analysis of rose oil which can yield comprehensive results without the traditional obligation for costly and time consuming extraction techniques.     

Determination of radix ginseng volatile oils at different ages by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Comprehensive 2-D GC (GC x GC) coupled with TOF MS or flame ionization detector (FID) was employed to characterize and quantify the chemical composition of volatile oil in the radixes of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey. (ginseng) at different ages. Thirty-six terpenoids were tentatively identified based on the MS library search and retention index in a ginseng sample at the age of 3 years. An obvious group-type separation was obtained in the GC x GC-TOF MS chromatogram. The data collected by GC x GC-FID were processed using a principal component analysis (PCA) method to classify the samples at different ages. The compounds responsible for the significant differentiation among samples were defined. It was found that the relative abundances of alpha-cadinol, alpha-bisabolol, thujopsene, and n-hexadecanoic acid significantly rise with the increase in age.     

树兰花挥发性成分的提取及鉴定

采用超临界CO2流体从树兰花中提取挥发油,得油率为2.64%。利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对树兰花油中的化学成分进行分离和鉴定,共分离出54种组分,确认了其中的48种成分,其中有18种萜烯类化合物和12种酯类物质等成分,如α-蛇麻烯、亚麻酸乙酯、大根香叶烯-D、β-榄香烯、古巴烯、石竹烯、茉莉酮酸甲酯、β-蛇麻烯-7-醇和棕榈酸乙酯等。     

色谱与色谱/质谱法相结合分析热裂解汽油C9馏分

采用毛细管气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器（CGC-FID）和气相色谱-质谱法(GC/MS)分析了热裂解汽油C9 馏分的组成。实验使用PONA毛细管气相色谱柱(100 m×0.25 mm i.d.×0.5 μm),根据烃类化合物在PONA柱上的保留规律,以正构烷烃标样保留值作为碳数分布依据,定量分析了裂解汽油C9 馏分中烃类化合物的碳数分布和单体烃含量;用GC/MS联用技术和CGC保留值定性法相结合对裂解汽油C9 馏分中相对含量大于0.2%的39种化合物进行了定性。     

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in solid sample material using a desorption device coupled to a GC/MS system

Summary Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) today are ubiquitous detectable constituents of recent sediments. The compounds are adsorbed on particulate emissions and are thus transferred to the environment. To date the analysis of PAH in sediments, dust samples and plant material is based mainly on the application of solvent-extraction methods followed by liquid chromatography and/or gas chromatographic separation of the extracts.An alternative approach for the analysis of PAH in solid samples such as coal, sediments, dust samples and plant waxes is shown in this contribution. A commercially available device for the analysis of volatile compounds present in solid matter is connected on-line to a GC/MS system. The device enables the thermal desorption of hydrocarbons at a temperature of 320°C. Subsequently, the hydrocarbons trapped on the initial part of the capillary column are analyzed by GC/MS. The application of mass chromatography provides the possibility of detection and quantitation of PAH in complex mixtures even when they coelute with other compounds. The sample amount required varies between 1 and 10 mg depending on the hydrocarbon content.     

Simple sample transfer technique by internally expanded desorptive flow for needle trap devices

Needle trap devices (NTDs) are improving in simplicity and usefulness for sampling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) since their first introduction in early 2000s. Three different sample transfer methods have been reported for NTDs to date. All methods use thermal desorption and simultaneously provide desorptive flow to transfer desorbed VOCs into a GC separation column. For NTDs having 'side holes', GC carrier gas enters a 'side hole' and passes through sorbent particles to carry desorbed VOCs, while for NTD not having a 'side hole', clean air as desorptive flow can be provided through a needle head by a air tight syringe to sweep out desorbed VOCs or water vapor has been reported recently to be used as desorptive flow. We report here a new simple sample transfer technique for NTDs, in which no side holes and an external desorptive flow are required. When an NTD enriched by a mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) or n-alkane mixture (C6-C15) is exposed to the hot zone of GC injector, the expanding air above the packed sorbent transfers the desorbed compounds from the sorbent to the GC column. This internal air expansion results in clean and sharp desorption profiles for BTEX and n-alkane mixture with no carryover. The effect of desorption temperature, desorption time, and overhead volumes was studied. Decane having vapor pressure of approximately 1 Torr at 20 degrees C showed approximately 1% carryover at the moderate thermal desorption condition (0.5 min at 250 degrees C).     

Analysis of pheromones: Enrichment on thick film capillary traps and GC detection with a living detector (EAD)

Insect pheromones and other insect semiochemicals have been concentrated in capillary traps for thermal desorption and gas chromatographic separation. Whereas highly volatile compounds are not quantitatively retained by traps short enough to enable thermal desorption in the injector, quantitative trapping is possible on longer fused silica traps. Short traps coated with a 145 μm film of a polysiloxane were used for the quantitative determination of the constituents of a dung beetle attractant. By means of a “living detector” with the antenna of an insect as sensing element the compounds eluting from a gas chromatographic column, were screened for possible semiochemical activity.     

Determination of volatile flavor components in danggui cultivars by solvent free injection and hydrodistillation followed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis

The rhizome of Angelica gigas Nakai, Angelica sinensis Diels and Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa (Umbelliferae) were chopped and extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) and solvent free solid injector (SFSI) methods to obtain the volatile compounds that were then characterized and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). SFSI extraction yielded a generally higher amount of volatile compounds than that produced by HD. A total of 48 components [including terpenes (8), aldehydes (4), alcohol (2), coumarins (9), Phthalide (3), acids (2) and sterols (2)] were identified by SFSI and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from the three species of danggui cultivars, whereas, 24-essential oil was obtained by HD for Korean danggui only. According to these analyses, several coumarin derivatives such as decursinol angelate (16.83%) and decursin (29.34%) were found to be the dominant ones, followed by lomatin (10.25%) and marmesin (9.33%) in Korean danggui. Furfural and butylidene phthalide were the main components in Japanese in addition to butylidene dihydro-phthalide in Chinese danggui. Some parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as injector temperature, injection time and pre-heating time were optimized. The results showed that the SFSI-method gave a higher yield of components with higher molecular mass than hydrodistillation. SFSI required little time to prepare the sample, little sample mass and a small quantity of organic solvent was needed. It can be concluded that analysis of volatile flavor compounds by SFSI in combination with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is a suitable monitoring technique to differentiate danggui cultivars.     

Needle microextraction trap for on-site analysis of airborne volatile compounds at ultra-trace levels in gaseous samples

Different capillary needle trap (NT) configurations are studied and compared to evaluate the suitability of this methodology for screening in the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air samples at ultra-trace levels. Totally, 22 gauge needles with side holes give the best performance and results, resulting in good sampling flow reproducibility as well as fast and complete NT conditioning and cleaning. Two different types of sorbent are evaluated: a graphitized carbon (Carbopack X) and a polymeric sorbent (Tenax TA). Optimized experimental conditions were desorption in the GC injector at 300°C, no make-up gas to help the transport of the desorbed compounds to the GC column, 1 min splitless time for injection/desorption, and leaving the NT in the hot injector for about 20 min. Cross-contamination is avoided when samples containing high VOC levels (above likely breakthrough values) are evaluated. Neither carryover nor contamination is detected for storage times up to 48 h at 4°C. The method developed is applied for the analysis of indoor air, outdoor air and breath samples. The results obtained are equivalent to those obtained with other thermal desorption devices but have the advantage of using small sample volumes, being simpler, more economical and more robust than conventional methodologies used for VOC analysis in air samples.     

吹扫/捕集-热脱附气质联用法对荷叶挥发油成分的对比分析

采用同时蒸馏萃取提取得到荷叶挥发油, 通过吹扫/捕集-热脱附法(P&T-TD)对上述提取物中挥发性成分进行富集, 以气质联用(GC/MS)进行定性检测, 同时与直接进样GC/MS法分析的成分进行比较. 两种方法成功分离分析出有机酸、酯、醛、醇、酚、烷烃、芳香烃、烯烃以及含氮、硫、氧杂原子的化合物等共计84种成分, 其中P&T-TD GC/MS鉴定出63种有机化合物, GC/MS鉴定出41种有机化合物, 有20种成分共同检出. 对比分析表明: P&T-TD GC/MS的吹扫/捕集-热脱附过程能富集各种组分, 相比GC/MS分析, 可以鉴定出微量成分及更多挥发性和半挥发性成分, 在精油等挥发性成分的分析检测中使用优势明显.     

顶空固相微萃取-气相色谱/质谱分析艾叶中的易挥发性成分

采用顶空固相微萃取(HS-SPME)与气相色谱/质谱(GC/MS)联用方法对艾叶中易挥发性成分进行了分析,并通过单因素和正交试验对影响HS-SPME的条件进行优化,确定了HS-SPME的最优参数为:50/30μm DVB/CAR/PDMS固相微萃取头、样品用量0.8g、萃取温度75℃、萃取时间50min、平衡时间30min、解吸4min。经GC/MS分析,共检出196种化合物,利用质谱解析结合保留指数定性确定结构132种,占易挥发性成分总量的94.01%。其中主要易挥发性成分是3-氨基吡唑、桉油精、β-杜松烯、顺-β-松油醇、3-甲基-2-丁烯酸-4-硝基苯基酯、3,6,6-三甲基-1,5-庚二烯-4-醇、6-甲基-3-(1-异丙基)-2-环己烯-1-酮、3-甲基-2-丁烯酸环丁酯。本文结果为艾叶易挥发性成分及其开发利用提供了一定的理论依据。     

S_2OF_(10)气体标准样品制备方法和测定方法研究

提出了一系列的安全、方便、可靠、在线和可连续操作的热解吸／色谱分析柱制备Ｓ２ＯＦ１０纯品、指数稀释法配制Ｓ２ＯＦ１０标准样品、应用定量校正系数测定样品中痕量Ｓ２ＯＦ１０的方法和技术。分别采用气相色谱、红外光谱、气相色谱／质谱等方法对色谱制备的Ｓ２ＯＦ１０纯品进行了纯度分析和测定。配制Ｓ２ＯＦ１０标准气体的体积分数范围为８．０×１０－７～２．６×１０－４。气相色谱测定Ｓ２ＯＦ１０的定量校正系数为０．１９７,测定方法的相对误差范围为１．８％～２０％。     

Improved fatty acid detection in micro-algae and aquatic meiofauna species using a direct thermal desorption interface combined with comprehensive gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection is used to profile the fatty acid composition of whole/intact aquatic microorganisms such as the common fresh water green algae Scenedesmus acutus and the filamentous cyanobacterium Limnothrix sp. strain MRI without any sample preparation steps. It is shown that the technique can be useful in the identification of lipid markers in food-web as well as environmental studies. For instance, new mono- and diunsaturated fatty acids were found in the C(16) and C(18) regions of the green algae S. acutus and the filamentous cyanobacterium Limnothrix sp. strain MRI samples. These fatty acids have not, to our knowledge, been detected in the conventional one-dimensional (1D) GC analysis of these species due to either co-elution and/or their presence in low amounts in the sample matrix. In GC x GC, all congeners of the fatty acids in these microorganisms could be detected and identified due to the increased analyte detectability and ordered structures in the two-dimensional separation space. The combination of direct thermal desorption (DTD)-GC x GC-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ToF-MS) promises to be an excellent tool for a more accurate profiling of biological samples and can therefore be very useful in lipid biomarker research as well as food-web and ecological studies.