Gas generation and preconcentration coupled to gas phase molecular absorption spectrometry: a powerful tool for the simultaneous determination of analytes forming volatile compounds

Different methods for a simultaneous determination of several analytes forming volatile compounds at room temperature are described. The main steps of these methods are: continuous generation, collection in a cryogenic trap, revolatilization, measurement of the volatile compounds by Gas Phase Molecular Absorption Spectrometry and resolution by multi-wavelength methods. Several mixtures containing 2, 3 or 4 components have been studied: 1) elements forming covalent hydrides; 2) arsenic organometallic compounds forming volatile gases with a similar structure to arsine; and 3) sulphur species that can evolve volatile compounds. Under the optimum conditions obtained for each mixture, detection limits range from 0.8 ng/mL (dimethylarsinic acid) to 2 g/mL (SCN^-).     

23种挥发性有机化合物在3种吸附剂上漏出容量的测定评价

采用吸附热解吸－气相色谱－质谱法对23种挥发性有机化合物Chromosorb 106、Tenax TA、Tenax TG等3种吸附剂上漏出容量进行了测定。根据实验结果确定了不同的化合物应选择不同的吸附剂及相应的采样体积。结果表明,Chromosorb 106可较好地吸附低沸点的挥发性有机化合物,Tenax TA、Tenax TG均可用于沸点较高的挥发笥有机化合物吸附,这对测定大气中的有机化合物含量采样有一定的参考价值。     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil from Fusarium tricinctum, the endophytic fungus in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis

The volatile oil, obtained by hydro-distillation from Fusarium tricinctum, the endophytic fungus isolated from Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). trans-1,2,3,3a,4,7a-Hexahydro-7a-methyl-5H-inden-5-one (73.1%), 2-methylene-4,8,8-trimethyl-4-vinyl bicyclo [5.2.0] nonane (12.0%), and 2,6-dimethyl-6-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl) bicyclo [3.1.1] hept-2-ene (4.5%) were the major compounds of the 15 identified components accounting for 95.4% of the volatile oil. The antimicrobial activity of the volatile oil was assayed against eight bacteria and two fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the volatile oil against the test bacteria ranged from 25 to 45 microg/mL. The MIC values against the fungi Candida albicans and Magnaporthe oryzae were 100 and 225 microg/mL, respectively. The mean inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the volatile oil against the test bacteria ranged from 17.8 to 31.6 microg/mL, and those of the volatile oil against C. albicans and M. oryzae were 84.3 and 204.3 microg/mL, respectively.     

Determination of volatile compounds in cider spirits by gas chromatography with direct injection

Two analytical methods based on gas chromatography with direct injection are described for the quantitative analysis of volatile compounds (acetals, aldehydes, esters, alcohols, and volatile phenols) in cider brandies. Analytes were divided into major, 15, and minor volatile, 24, compounds depending on their usual concentration in samples. Parameters usually tested for method validation are evaluated. Correlation coefficients are calculated to estimate linearity, obtaining values higher than 0.999. Detection limits range between 0.325 mg/L (1-propanol) and 1.663 mg/L (methanol) among the major volatile compounds and between 0.086 mg/L (ethyl 2-methylbutyrate) and 0.332 mg/L (ethyl tetradecanoate) among the minor volatiles. Mean recoveries ranged between 109% (ethyl lactate) and 95% (1-butanol) for major volatiles and between 109% (1-octen-3-ol) and 94% (ethyl 2-methylbutyrate) for minor volatiles, thus confirming the accuracy of both methods. Reproducibility for major volatiles is < 5.4% (furfural) in all cases and < 9.6% (hexyl acetate) for minor volatiles. Moreover, the accuracy of the methods is evaluated by analyzing a certified whisky and five samples from interlaboratory assays, generally obtaining results in accordance with previous values.     

Determination of volatile and non-volatile nickel and vanadium compounds in crude oil using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after oil fractionation into saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes

In recent work, it has been shown that electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) can be used to differentiate between volatile and non-volatile nickel and vanadium compounds in crude oil. In the present work, the distribution of these two groups of compounds over different fractions of crude oil was investigated. For this purpose two crude oil samples were separated in two steps: firstly, the asphaltenes were precipitated with n-heptane, and secondly, the maltenes were loaded on a silica column and eluted with solvents of increasing polarity. The four fractions of maltenes eluted from silica column were: F1, saturated and light aromatics; F2, polyaromatics; F3, resins; and F4, polar compounds. Fractions F1 and F2 were further investigated using gas chromatography, and all fractions were characterized by CHN analysis, confirming the increase of aromatics in the fractions 2, 3, 4 and asphaltenes. For the determination of Ni and V by ET AAS, oil-in-water emulsions were prepared. The speciation analysis was carried out measuring without chemical modifier (stable compounds) and with 20 μg palladium (total Ni and V) and the volatile fraction was calculated by difference. The limits of detection were 0.02 μg g⁻¹ and 0.06 μg g⁻¹, for Ni and V, respectively, based on an emulsion of 2 g of oil in 10 mL. The volatile species of Ni and V were associated with fractions F3 and F4, while only thermally stable Ni and V was precipitated in part together with the asphaltenes.     

Layered double hydroxide/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) coated solid phase microextraction Arrow for the determination of volatile organic compounds in water

Today, wide variety of adsorbents have been developed for sample pretreatment to concentrate and separate harmful substances. However, only a few solid phase microextraction Arrow adsorbents are commercially available. In this study, we developed a new solid phase microextraction Arrow coating, in which nanosheets layered double hydroxides and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) were utilized as the extraction phase and poly(vinyl chloride) as the adhesive. This new coating entailed higher extraction capacity for several volatile organic compounds (allyl methyl sulfide, methyl propyl sulfide, 3‐pentanone, 2‐butanone, and methyl isobutyl ketone) compared to the commercial Carboxen 1000/polydimethylsiloxane coating. Fabrication parameters for the coating were optimized and extraction and desorption conditions were investigated. The validation of the new solid phase microextraction Arrow coating was accomplished using water sample spiked with volatile organic compounds. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of quantification for the five volatile organic compounds by the new solid phase microextraction Arrow coating and developed gas chromatography with mass spectrometry method were in the range of 0.2‐4.6 ng/mL. The proposed method was briefly applied for enrichment of volatile organic compounds in sludge.     

Rapid Extraction of Volatile Compounds Using a New Simultaneous Microwave Distillation: Solvent Extraction Device

Simultaneous distillation–extraction (SDE) is routinely used by analysts for sample preparation prior to gas chromatography analysis. In this work, a new process design and operation for microwave assisted simultaneous distillation–solvent extraction (MW-SDE) of volatile compounds was developed. Using the proposed method, isolation, extraction and concentration of volatile compounds can be carried out in a single step. To demonstrate its feasibility, MW-SDE was compared with the conventional technique, SDE, for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of volatile compounds in a fresh aromatic herb, Zygophyllum album L., a wild salty desert herb belonging to the family Zygophyllaceae. SDE method required a long time (3 h) to isolate the volatile compounds, and large amounts of organic solvent (200 mL of hexane) for further extraction, while MW-SDE needed shorter time (only 30 min) to prepare the sample, and less amount of organic solvent (10 mL of hexane). These results show that MW-SDE–GC-MS is a simple, rapid and solvent-less method for the determination of volatile compounds from aromatic plants.     

Confirmatory method for the determination of volatile congeners and methanol in Turkish raki according to European Union Regulation (EEC) No. 2000R2870: single-laboratory validation

A method described by European Union Regulation (EEC) No. 2000R2870 was validated and supported by GC/MS analysis for the determination of volatile congeners and methanol in Turkish raki. The method was validated in terms of specificity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, linearity, and robustness. The specificity of the method was demonstrated, and the method showed excellent accuracy (97.5-100.1%). Linearity was checked in the ranges of 0.200-26.390 mg/100 mL for more volatile compounds and 1.155-48.00 mg/100 mL for less volatile compounds, after concentrations found in Turkish raki were taken into account. The calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity (R2 > 0.998). The within- and between-day precision (RSD) values of 11 analytes were in the range of 0.18-4.50%. The LOD and LOQ values were in the range of 0.014-0.362 and 0.045-1.085 mg/100 mL, respectively. The method can be used as an absolute quantification method for the determination of volatile congeners and methanol in Turkish raki and for QC.     

山楂挥发性化合物的气相色谱-质谱分析

采用蒸馏－萃取法收集山楂果的挥发性化合物,通过气相色谱及气相色谱／质谱分析,鉴定了３２种化合物,占总峰面积的６１％～６８％。其中主要的１０种化合物是顺－３－己烯醇、顺－３－乙酸己烯酯、α－萜品醇、糠醛、己醇、乙酸己酯、壬醛、柠檬醛、３－戊烯－２－酮,反－２－癸烯醛等。     

The Effect of Crataegus Fruit Pre-Treatment and Preservation Methods on the Extractability of Aroma Compounds during Liqueur Production

The leaves, inflorescences, and fruits of hawthorn have long been known for their therapeutic properties. A wide range of hawthorn products, including liqueurs, are manufactured, due to the technological potential of the raw material as well as the richness of its volatile compounds. This study aimed to determine the effect of the liqueur production method and various methods of fruit preservation on the quantitative and qualitative composition of volatile compounds in the liqueurs produced. Hawthorn fruits saturated with sucrose and non-saturated with sucrose, fresh or preserved through one of three methods: freezing, air-drying, and freeze-drying, were used for liqueur preparation. The samples were analyzed using a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer. They were found to contain 54 volatile compounds classified into 12 groups of chemicals. All 54 identified volatile compounds were detected in the liqueur made from hawthorn fruits non-saturated with sucrose and preserved by freeze-drying. In this liqueur type, 12 of the identified volatile compounds occurred in the highest concentration when compared to the other treatments. Among all volatiles, the following compounds were present in the analyzed liqueurs in the highest concentrations: dodecanoic acid ethyl ester (11.782 g/100 g), lactones (6.954 g/100 g), five monoterpenes (3.18 g/100 g), two aromatic hydrocarbons (1.293 g/100 g), isobensofuran (0.67 g/100 g), alcohol—2-methyl-2-propanol (0.059 g/100 g), and malonic ester (0.055 g/100 g). Among all analyzed liqueurs, the one made from the fruits non-saturated with sucrose and frozen was characterized by the smallest diversity of volatiles, which were present in the lowest concentrations in that liqueur.     

Isolation and preconcentration of volatile organic compounds from water

Methods for the isolation and/or concentration of volatile organic compounds from water samples for trace organic analysis by gas chromatography are reviewed. The following basic groups of methods are discussed: liquid-liquid extraction, adsorption on solid sorbents, extraction with gas (gas stripping and static and dynamic headspace techniques) and membrane processes. The theoretical bases of these methods are discussed. Experimental arrangements for the isolation and/or concentration of volatile compounds from water are presented and discussed with respect to their efficiency. The applicability of the described methods to the isolation and/or concentration of various organic compounds from waters of various origins is discussed.     

镁铝层状超分子化合物去除废水中的六价铬

实验比较了Na_2CO_3/Na OH、Na OH和NH4OH沉淀法制备的镁铝层状化合物对模拟废水中Cr(Ⅵ)的去除效果,并通过X射线衍射和Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET)方法分析了材料的结构特征。结果表明,以Na_2CO_3/Na OH为沉淀剂制备的镁铝层状化合物结晶度高、层状结构完整、比表面积较大、孔径适宜、吸附Cr(Ⅵ)的效果最佳,其优化吸附工艺为:固液比为1 g/500 m L,体系pH值为7~9,室温下震荡9 h。在最佳吸附条件下,镁铝层状化合物对Cr(Ⅵ)的饱和吸附量达到199.4 mg/g。镁铝层状化合物通过与含铬阴离子形成层状超分子化合物的方式实现了废水中铬的去除,对含Cr(Ⅵ)226.1 mg/L的实验室废水经6次工艺处理后,残余量小于0.5 mg/L,低于国家污水综合排放标准(GB8978-1996)指标。镁铝层状化合物是一种处理实验室废水中Cr(Ⅵ)的优良吸附剂。     

New procedure for the examination of the degradation of volatile organonitrogen compounds during the treatment of industrial effluents

We present a new procedure for the determination of 32 volatile organonitrogen compounds in samples of industrial effluents with a complex matrix. The procedure, based on dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography with nitrogen‐phosphorus and mass spectrometric detection, was optimized and validated. Optimization of the extraction included the type of extraction and disperser solvent, disperser solvent volume, pH, salting out effect, extraction, and centrifugation time. The procedure based on nitrogen‐phosphorus detection was found to be superior, having lower limits of detection (0.0067–2.29 μg/mL) and quantitation as well as a wider linear range. The developed procedure was applied to the determination of content of volatile organonitrogen compounds in samples of raw effluents from the production of bitumens in which 13 compounds were identified at concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 10.86 μg/mL and in samples of effluents treated by various chemical methods.     

Classification of wines from five Spanish origin denominations by aromatic compound analysis

Wine is a complex matrix in which aroma compounds play an important role in the characterization of the flavor pattern of a given wine. Twelve volatile compounds were determined in 244 samples of Spanish red wines from different denominations of origin: Rioja, Navarra, Valdepe?as, La Mancha, and Cari?ena. The samples were analyzed by GC using headspace solid-phase microextraction. The concentration (mg/mL) intervals obtained were 3-methyl-butyl acetate (3.9 to 116), 3-methyl-1-butanol (93 to 724), ethyl hexanoate (0.8 to 39), 1-hexanol (0.3 to 6.7), ethyl octanoate (1.4 to 41), diethyl succinate (0.2 to 13), 2-phenyl ethyl acetate (0 to 5.3), hexanoic acid (0 to 8.3), geraniol (0 to 3.0), 2-phenylethanol (1.5 to 56), octanoic acid (0 to 20), and decanoic acid (0 to 3.3). Wines were classified by multivariate statistical methods: principal component analysis, and lineal discriminant analysis. A correct differentiation among wines according to their origin was obtained by lineal discriminant analysis.     

Fabrication of titania and titania–silica aerogels using rapid supercritical extraction

Titania (TiO₂) and titania–silica (TiSi) aerogels are suitable for photocatalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds for pollution mitigation; however, methods for fabricating these aerogels can be complex. In this work we describe the use of a rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) technique to prepare TiO₂ and TiSi aerogels in as little as 8 h. The RSCE technique uses a metal mold and a four-step hydraulic hot press procedure to bring the solvents in the sol–gel pores to a supercritical state and control the supercritical fluid release process. Resulting TiO₂ aerogels were powdery with BET surface areas of 130–180 m²/g, pore volumes ~0.5 cm³/g and skeletal densities of 3.6 g/mL. Monolithic TiSi aerogels were made using two different methods. An impregnation process, in which titania precursor was added to a silica sol–gel, took 4–8 days to complete with a 7-h RSCE and resulted in translucent aerogels with high surface area (560–650 m²/g) and pore volume (2.0–2.6 cm³/g), bulk densities ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 g/mL and skeletal densities of 2.3 g/mL. A co-precursor method for preparing TiSi aerogels took 8 h to complete. The precursor chemical mixture was poured directly into the mold and processed in a 7-h RSCE process. The resulting aerogels were opaque, with high surface areas (510–580 m²/g), low bulk density (0.03 g/mL), skeletal densities of 2 g/mL and pore volumes of 2.6–3.5 cm³/g. Preliminary solar simulator studies show that TiO₂ and TiSi aerogels are capable of photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution.     

液相色谱-毛细管气相色谱/质谱离线联用分析烟草中的挥发性及半挥发性成分

建立了一种用于烟草样品中挥发性、半挥发性成分分析的液相色谱-毛细管气相色谱/质谱(LC-CGC/MS)离线联用方法。研究了LC-CGC/MS的分离机理。LC分析选用氨基分析柱(250 mm×2.0 mm, 5 μm)作为分析柱,正己烷-二氯甲烷-乙腈(90:6.6:3.4, v/v/v)作为流动相,对挥发性、半挥发性成分进行分离,收集得到5个馏分,并存放在5个氮吹瓶中。多次进样并收集相同时间段的馏分,氮吹浓缩至1 mL,然后分别进行CGC/MS分析,所用的CGC柱为DB-5MS(60 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)。结果显示,与直接采用CGC/MS分析相比,采用LC-CGC/MS分析复杂样本的效果更好,定性的可靠性更高。     

Development of a stir bar sorptive extraction method for the determination of volatile compounds in orange juices

A stir bar sorptive extraction method for the determination of volatile compounds in orange juices was developed. The extraction variables were optimized using a reduced two‐level factorial screening design (2^5‐1), and the most suitable analytical conditions for the extraction of the studied compounds were: sample volume 10 mL, extraction time 60 min, stirring speed 1800 rpm, NaCl amount 30% (weight/volume), and twister length 10 mm. The optimized method was further validated, obtaining good linearity and detection and quantification limits low enough to correctly determine the studied compounds. As well, for most of the studied compounds precision and recovery values were good. Several orange juice samples (squeezed and commercial) were extracted following the optimized extraction method and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection. The method has proven to be suitable for the determination of the aroma of orange juice, of which limonene was the major volatile compound in all the studied samples.     

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。     

Rapid determination of volatile constituents in safflower by microwave distillation and simultaneous solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

In this paper, microwave distillation and solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MD-SPME/GC-MS) was developed for the analysis of essential components in safflower. Using the MD-SPME technique, the isolation, extraction and concentration of volatile compounds in safflower were carried out in only one step. Some parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as SPME fiber coating, microwave power, irradiation time and the volume of water added were optimized. The optimal experiment parameters obtained were: 65 microm CW/DVB SPME fiber, a microwave power of 400 W, an irradiation time of 3 min and water volume of 1 mL. The proposed method has been compared with conventional steam distillation (SD) for extraction of essential oil compounds in safflower. Using MD-SPME followed by GC-MS, 32 compounds in safflower were separated and identified, which mainly included paeonol, alpha-asarone, beta-asarone, 1-methyl-4-(2-propenyl)-benzene and diethenyl-benzene, whereas only 18 compounds were separated and identified by conventional SD followed by GC-MS. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) values of less than 10% show that the proposed method has good reproducibility. The results show that MD-SPME/GC-MS is a simple, rapid, effective method for the analysis of volatile oil components in safflower.     

Determination of volatile oak compounds in wine by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) method was developed to identify and quantify 14 volatile oak compounds in aged red wines. The most important HS-SPME variables were optimised by experimental design technique in order to improved the extraction process. The selected conditions were: 10 mL of sample in 20 mL sealed vials with addition of 30% of sodium chloride (saturated solution), divinylbenzene-carboxen-polydimethylsiloxane (DVB-CAR-PDMS) fibre, 10 min of pre-incubation time, 70 degrees C of temperature and 60 min of extraction time without agitation. The features of the method were established for the studied compounds in terms of linear range, slope and intercept of the calibration graphs, detection and quantification limits and repeatability. For all compounds detection limits were below their threshold levels and repeatability, in terms of relative standard deviation, was good, with values between 3 and 11%. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of six aged red wines by both internal standard and standard addition calibration methods. The concentrations obtained with both methods were statistically compared.