Derivatisation in gas chromatographic determination of acidic herbicides in aqueous environmental samples

This paper reviews derivatisation processes applied in chromatographic determination of acidic herbicides (with carboxyl and phenol groups), mainly in aqueous environmental samples. The discussion focuses on the basic derivatisation reactions used to convert herbicides to derivatives to make them analysable by gas chromatography, and possibly to reduce detection limits and/or increase extraction recovery from aqueous samples. The reactions are transesterification, esterification, silylation, alkylation, and extractive and pyrolytic alkylation. The reagents used to conduct the reactions are numerous. Diazomethane is a very efficient methylation reagent but explosive and toxic. Methyl iodide also ensures rapid and efficient methylation. Benzyl bromide can be used directly in water but derivatisation yield is low and reproducibility is poor. Butyl chloroformate and dimethyl sulfite can also be used for derivatisation in water, and acetic anhydride can be used for in-situ derivatisation of phenolic herbicides. For increasing selectivity of GC detection pentafluorobenzyl bromide (for ECD) and (2-cyanethyl)dimethyl(diethylamino)silane (for NPD) have been applied. Very characteristic ions are produced in mass spectra if silyl groups are introduced, e.g. by using bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide. Tetramethylammonium, trimethylphenylammonium, tetraalkylammonium, and trimethylsulfonium hydroxides and salts can by used for derivatisation at elevated temperature in the GC injection port. Extractive alkylation is relatively efficient if tetraalkylammonium salts with long chain alkyl groups are used.     

Sample preparation for gas chromatographic analysis of organic solvents in aerosol cans

Summary A method for the sampling of chemical products from aerosol cans is described. An aerosol can is frozen in liquid nitrogen, followed by puncturing the can and allowing the propellant to distill off. The conditions for the smaple preparation have been optimized. Solvent content in the products were analysed by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.     

Sample handling strategies for the determination of persistent trace organic contaminants from biota samples

Even after emergence of most advanced instrumental techniques for the final separation, detection, identification and determination of analytes, sample handling continues to play a basic role in environmental analysis of complex matrices. In fact, sample preparation steps are often the bottleneck for combined time and efficiency in many overall analytical procedures. Thus, it is not surprising that, in the last two decades, a lot of effort has been devoted to the development of faster, safer, and more environment friendly techniques for sample extraction and extract clean up, prior to actual instrumental analysis. This article focuses on the state of the art in sample preparation of environmental solid biological samples dedicated to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) analysis. Extraction techniques such as Soxhlet extraction, sonication-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) and matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) are reviewed and their most recent applications to the determination of POPs in biota samples are provided. Additionally, classical as well as promising novel extraction/clean-up techniques such as solid phase microextraction (SPME) are also summarized. Finally, emerging trends in sample preparation able to integrate analytes extraction and their adequate clean-up are presented.     

Microextraction techniques for the determination of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds from plants: A review

Vegetables and fruits are necessary for human health, and traditional Chinese medicine that uses plant materials can cure diseases. Thus, understanding the composition of plant matrix has gained increased attention in recent years. Since plant matrix is very complex, the extraction, separation and quantitation of these chemicals are challenging.     

New methodologies in trace analysis of volatile organic compounds

Two methods for sampling and concentration of volatile organic compounds are reported. In the first method, traps coated with a very thick film (ca. 100 μm) of cross-linked silicone stationary phase are employed. Such thick films can be prepared with a modified dynamic coating procedure, which is briefly described. The low phase ratio traps can be utilized for enrichment of volatiles from gaseous as well as aqueous matrices. The second technique is based on chromatographic evaporation of a solvent in a capillary tube, where the process is sustained by a repeated sample injection and a cyclic flow reversal. In this way, large solvent volumes can be handled by a small volume system. Under optimal conditions, when using a solvent barrier, quantitative recovery is possible even for compounds of comparatively high volatility. Another important application of the technique is extraction of trace components from gases such as headspace samples, polluted air, etc.     

Fiber-packed needle-type sample preparation device designed for gas chromatographic analysis

A miniaturized sample preparation technique that uses a fine-fiber-packed needle as the extraction medium is reviewed, especially in relation to its application to the analysis of volatile organic compounds by gas chromatography. When the needle was packed longitudinally with a bundle of fine filaments (12 μm o.d.) which were also surface-coated with polymeric materials, successful sample preconcentration was obtained. Improved sensitivity was also established by introducing simultaneous derivatization reactions into the extraction process in the fiber-packed needle. The storage performance of the needle clearly demonstrated the potential of the technique for typical on-site sampling during environmental analysis. In this short review, the fiber-packed extraction needle developed by the authors is summarized along with applications that use the fiber-packed needle as a miniaturized extraction device.     

Headspace hollow fiber protected liquid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for speciation and determination of volatile organic compounds of selenium in environmental and biological samples

A simple and novel speciation method for the determination of volatile organic compounds of selenium (dimethylselenide (DMSe) and dimethyldiselenide (DMDSe) has been developed using a headspace hollow fiber protected liquid-phase microextraction (HS-HF-LPME) combined with capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The organic solvent impregnated in the pores and filled inside the porous hollow fiber membrane was used as an extraction interface in the HS-HF-LPME of the compounds. The effect of different variables on the extraction efficiency was studied simultaneously using an experimental design. The variables of interest in the HS-HF-LPME were sample volume, extraction time, temperature of sample solution, ionic strength, stirring rate and dwelling time. A Plackett-Burman design was performed for screening in order to determine the significant variables affecting the extraction efficiency. Then, the significant factors were optimized by a Box-Behnken design (BBD) and the response surface equations were derived. Under optimum conditions, preconcentration factors up to 1250 and 1170 were achieved for DMSe and DMDSe respectively. The detection limit and relative standard deviation (RSD) (n=5, c=50 μg L(-1)) for DMSe were 65 ng L(-1) and 4.8%, respectively. They were also obtained for DMDSe as 57 ng L(-1) and 3.9%, respectively. The developed technique was found to be applicable to spiked environmental and biological samples.     

Development and validation of a solid-phase microextraction method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in groundwater samples

Summary Solid-phase microextraction is a relatively recent extraction technique for sample preparation. It has been used successfully to analyse environmental pollutants in a variety of matrices such as soils, water and air. In this work, a simple and rapid method for the analysis of volatile organic and polar compounds from polluted groundwater samples by SPME coupled with gas chromatography (GC) is described. Different types of fibres were studied and the extraction process was optimised. The fibre that proved to be the best to analyse this kind of samples was CAR-PDMS. The method was validated by analysis of synthetic samples and comparison with headspace—GC. The optimised method was successfully applied to the analysis of ground-water samples.     

Gas chromatographic determination of chlorobenzenes and other chlorinated hydrocarbons in environmental samples using fused silica capillary columns

Summary In order to assess the pathways of chlorinated benzenes and toluenes, hexachlorobutadiene and polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment capillary gas chromatographic methods have been developed for analysis of water, sediments and biological samples. Compound recoveries are reported from water, using liquid-liquid extraction with hexane, and from sediments and fish, using soxhlet extraction with hexane/acetone. After suitable cleanup, hexane extracts are chromatographed on a duel fused silica column arrangement (OV1 and SE54 with electron capture detectors for quantitation. The application of these procedures to environmental analysis is discussed.Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Chromatography London, September, 1982     

Simultaneous determination of odorous volatile organic compounds with gas chromatography and a thermal desorber: A case study on methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, butyl acetate, toluene, and xylene

In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to examine the feasibility of the gas chromatographic approach for the quantification of several odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental samples which included methyl ethyl ketone, isobutyl alcohol, methyl isobutyl ketone, and butyl acetate plus benzene, toluene, and xylene (namely, BTX). The gaseous working standards (WS) of seven compounds were initially calibrated at varying concentration ranges by direct injection (DI) into GC injector. The detection properties of these compounds were then tested with a thermal desorber (TD). The relative sensitivities of three aromatic VOCs differed greatly between DI and TD methods. In contrast, four polar VOCs tend to consistently exhibit relative enhancement in response factors with increasing molecular mass (an exception of butyl acetate), regardless of method. The TD-based analysis was reliable enough to detect all target VOCs below their odor threshold values with their detection limit (DL) values. This TD method, when tested against a number of environmental samples collected from several industrial facilities, confirmed the presence of these odorous VOCs at a wide concentration range.     

Recent advances in analytical methodologies based on mass spectrometry for the environmental analysis of halogenated organic contaminants

Halogenated organic contaminants, including legislated and potential persistent organic pollutants and their precursors, represent a major environmental concern due to their hazardous effects in humans and wildlife as well as their ability to bioaccumulate through the food chain, their high resistance to environmental degradation, and their long-range atmospheric transport potential. The monitoring of these compounds in the environment at ultra-trace concentration levels requires highly selective and sensitive analytical methodologies. The lack of reference step-by-step methods led to a high number of reliable determinations depending on analytes, the complexity of the sample, and available instrumentation. Thus, this review article is mainly focused on the last advances in the analytical methodologies for the determination of halogenated organic contaminants. Methodologies regarding sample treatment, chromatographic separation, and mass spectrometry analysis have been reviewed to finally highlight the future perspectives for the improvement of the analytical determinations of these compounds and the throughput of environmental control laboratories in this field.     

Sample preparation for the chromatographic determination of ecdysteroids using solid-phase extraction methods

The ecdysteroids are hormones widely distributed in insects and crustaceans, where they are involved in the regulation of moulting. Methods of sample preparation based on solid-phase extraction of the ecdysteroids from biological samples for subsequent chromatographic analysis are reviewed. Most methods use an initial partition of the sample (or extract) between water or aqueous methanol with a non-polar solvent to remove lipids. The aqueous portion is applied to a cartridge containing C₁₈-bonded silica gel. Removal of polar impurities is then effected, followed by recovery of the ecdysteroids from the cartridge and chromatographic analysis. Results are given for the use of phenylboronic acid (PBA) bonded to silica gel as a means of obtaining a much more specific method of extraction. The PBA phase was shown to have a high affinity for ecdysteroids containing a 20,22-cis-diol but not for compounds possessing only a 2,3-cis-diol.     

A critical review on extraction techniques and gas chromatography based determination of grapevine derived sesquiterpenes

Vitis vinifera L. (common grapevine) is considered one of the major world fruit crops based on the extent of cultivated land and on its economic value. Grapevine is composed by several different chemical compounds, including sesquiterpenic ones. Sesquiterpenic compounds play a significant role in varietal aromas, contributing to fruity and flowery odours, and are also well known for their potential health benefits. The advantages and drawbacks of different extraction and gas chromatographic techniques used for the determination of sesquiterpenic compounds are critically presented. Also, the future trends of sample preparation and gas chromatographic tools are discussed. This review provides the state-of-the-art and the technical know-how for the researchers who want to start studying sesquiterpenic compounds on complex matrices such as grapevine products.     

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environmental samples: a critical review of gas chromatographic (GC) methods

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are frequently measured in the atmosphere for air quality assessment, in biological tissues for health-effects monitoring, in sediments and mollusks for environmental monitoring, and in foodstuffs for safety reasons. In contemporary analysis of these complex matrices, gas chromatography (GC), rather than liquid chromatography (LC), is often the preferred approach for separation, identification, and quantification of PAHs, largely because GC generally affords greater selectivity, resolution, and sensitivity than LC. This article reviews modern-day GC and state-of-the-art GC techniques used for the determination of PAHs in environmental samples. Standard test methods are discussed. GC separations of PAHs on a variety of capillary columns are examined, and the properties and uses of selected mass spectrometric (MS) techniques are presented. PAH literature on GC with MS techniques, including chemical ionization, ion-trap MS, time-of-flight MS (TOF-MS), and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), is reviewed. Enhancements to GC, for example large-volume injection, thermal desorption, fast GC, and coupling of GC to LC, are also discussed with regard to the determination of PAHs in an effort to demonstrate the vigor and robustness GC continues to achieve in the analytical sciences.     

Microextraction of volatile compounds from wine samples and their determination by GC-FID. The effect of the salts and extraction solvents used

Summary This study describes the optimization of microextraction as a method for extracting volatile compounds from wine. The study has been applied to twelve compounds present in wine: 3-methylbutyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl hexanoate, hexanol, ethyl octanoate, butanoic acid, ethyl decanoate, diethyl succinate, hexanoic acid, phenylethanol, octanoic acid, and decanoic acid. These compounds were selected from those identified by GC-MS analysis of a real wine sample. By means of a synthetic wine, the study investigated the influence on extraction yield of the solvents and salts used, the proportion of salts, and the agitation time. The determination was performed by GC with flame ionization detection and an internal standard was used for quantification. The method was applied to samples of white wine from La Rioja.     

Direct mercury determination in aqueous slurries of environmental and biological samples by cold vapour generation-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Direct cold vapour generation from aqueous slurries of environmental (marine sediment, soil, coal) and biological (human hair, seafood) samples have been developed using a batch mode generation system coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. The effects of several variables affecting the cold vapour generation efficiency from solid particles (hydrochloric acid and sodium tetrahydroborate concentrations, argon flow rate, acid solution volume and mean particle size) have been evaluated using a Plackett-Burman experimental design. In addition, variables affecting cold vapour trapping and atomisation efficiency on Ir-treated graphite tubes (trapping and atomisation temperatures and trapping time) have been also investigated. Atomisation and trapping temperatures, trapping time and hydrochloric acid concentration were the significant variables. The 2²+star and 2³+star central composite designs have been used to obtain optimum values of the variables selected. The accuracy of methods have been verified by using several certified reference materials (PACS-1, GBW-07410, NIST-1632c, CRM-397 and DORM-2). A characteristic mass of 390 pg were achieved. The detection limits of methods were in the range of 40-600 ng g⁻¹. A particle size less than 50 μm is adequate to obtain total cold vapour generation of Hg content in the aqueous slurry particles.     

气相色谱-质谱联用测定环境样品中三氯生

建立了气相色谱质谱联用(GC-MS)分析自然水体中三氯生的方法,采用C(18)固相萃取柱处理水样.利用N-甲基-N(三甲基硅)-三氟乙酰胺(MSTFA)对目标物进行衍生化.GC-MS分析中以菲-D10为内标,利用内标法对三氯生进行定量.河水海水中不同浓度加标的三氯生回收率为73%～101%,相对标准偏差(RSD)在4.5%～11.3%之间,方法检出限为0.2 ng/L.该方法适用于河水海水水体中三氯生的测定.     

High-performance liquid chromatography-UV diode array,inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICMPS) and orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (oa-TOFMS) applied to the simultaneous detection and identification of metabolites of 4-bromoaniline in rat urine

Summary The paper describes the role and tasks of environmental analysis and monitoring. It emphasises the leading role played by gas chromatography, especially when coupled with suitable sample preparation. This is demonstrated by some literature evidence and mainly by the author's original work on the design of sample preparation apparatus and development of GC-based methods of determination of a wide variety of organic pollutants in environmental samples. A typical example is the physical speciation of PAHs and PCBs in river environment with the use of a home-made filtration vessel coupled with SPE cartridges to prepare samples for GC-MS analysis; thin layer head space with self-generation of aqueous concentrate to prepare humane urine samples for DAI (direct aqueous injection)-GC-ECD analysis for the content of volatile chloro-organic compounds; studies on capillary denuders in sampling organic air pollutants; passive dosimeters in indoor air quality measurements; design and application of thermal desorbers for the introduction of analytes into GC columns and modification of a speciation analyser for organometalic environmental pollutants. Presented at Balaton Symposium '01 on High-Performance Separation Methods, Siófok, Hungary, September 2–4, 2001     

Comparative studies of methylmercury determination in biological and environmental samples

Some parameters affecting the accuracy of various approaches to methylmercury (MeHg) determination in biological and environmental samples were studied. Different isolation techniques (ion-exchange, extraction, volatilization, distillation) and final measurement via cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV AA) or gas chromatography (GC) were compared. Results obtained by the various isolation techniques are comparable for almost all biological and environmental samples, except for soils and some sediments, where disagreement between the results obtained by GC and CV AA was found. In order to resolve these problems, a new separation technique based on distillation of MeHg from the sample followed either by CV AA or GC was developed. The new method results in very good recovery and reproducibility (95 ± 2%) for all samples examined (fish, mussel, shrimp, blood, hair, algae, sediment, etc.), is specific for MeHg and provides for its differentiation from other species by an indirect CV AA determination. Gas-chromatographic measurement of the isolated MeHg using different packings and conditioning of the columns is also discussed. The distillation method with GC detection is advantageous in producing cleaner chromatograms and in prolonging the life-time of the packing and the intervals between reconditioning.     

Highly selective ionic liquid-based microextraction method for sensitive trace cobalt determination in environmental and biological samples

A simple and rapid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure based on an ionic liquid (IL-DLLME) was developed for selective determination of cobalt (Co) with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) detection. Cobalt was initially complexed with 1-nitroso-2-naphtol (1N2N) reagent at pH 4.0. The IL-DLLME procedure was then performed by using a few microliters of the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₆mim][PF₆] as extractant while methanol was the dispersant solvent. After microextraction procedure, the Co-enriched RTIL phase was solubilized in methanol and directly injected into the graphite furnace. The effect of several variables on Co-1N2N complex formation, extraction with the dispersed RTIL phase, and analyte detection with ETAAS, was carefully studied in this work. An enrichment factor of 120 was obtained with only 6 mL of sample solution and under optimal experimental conditions. The resultant limit of detection (LOD) was 3.8 ng L⁻¹, while the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.4% (at 1 μg L⁻¹ Co level and n = 10), calculated from the peak height of absorbance signals. The accuracy of the proposed methodology was tested by analysis of a certified reference material. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Co in environmental and biological samples.