Experimental designs for modeling retention patterns and separation efficiency in analysis of fatty acid methyl esters by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The retention behavior of components analyzed by chromatography varies with instrumental settings. Being able to predict how changes in these settings alter the elution pattern is useful, both with regards to component identification, as well as with regards to optimization of the chromatographic system. In this work, it is shown how experimental designs can be used for this purpose. Different experimental designs for response surface modeling of the separation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) as function of chromatographic conditions in GC have been evaluated. Full factorial, central composite, Doehlert and Box-Behnken designs were applied. A mixture of 38 FAMEs was separated on a polar cyanopropyl substituted polysilphenylene-siloxane phase capillary column. The temperature gradient, the start temperature of the gradient, and the carrier gas velocity were varied in the experiments. The modeled responses, as functions of chromatographic conditions, were retention time, retention indices, peak widths, separation efficiency and resolution between selected peak pairs. The designs that allowed inclusion of quadratic terms among the predictors performed significantly better than factorial design. Box-Behnken design provided the best results for prediction of retention, but the differences between the central composite, Doehlert and Box-Behnken designs were small. Retention indices could be modeled with much better accuracy than retention times. However, because the errors of predicted tR of closely eluting peaks were highly correlated, models of resolution (Rs) that were based on retention time had errors in the same range as corresponding models based on ECL.     

Evaluation of the separation characteristics of application-specific (fatty acid methyl esters) open-tubular columns for gas chromatography

The solvation parameter model is used to characterize the separation properties of the polar stationary phases EC-Wax and PAG with a poly(ethylene oxide) backbone (substituted with propylene oxide in the case of PAG) and the cyanopropyl-substituted polysilphenylene-siloxane stationary phase BPX90 at five equally spaced temperatures between 60 and 140 degrees C. The separation characteristics of these stationary phases are compared to four PEG and two poly(cyanopropylsiloxane) stationary phases (HP-20M, HP-Innowax, SolGel-Wax, DB-WAXetr, HP-88, and SP-2340) characterized in the same way. The database of system constants for these polar stationary phases is used to provide insight into the separation mechanism for fatty acid methyl esters and to determine selectivity differences that can be expected for generically similar stationary phase types. The discussion is not structured to indicate which stationary phase should be used for a particular separation but to provide a general framework to demonstrate the relationship between the retention mechanism and stationary phase chemistry.     

气相色谱法测定生物柴油中脂肪酸甲酯含量

生物柴油是利用动植物油脂等可再生资源通过酯交换技术制造的可以替代石化柴油的新型清洁安全燃料[1-3]它的主要成分是脂肪酸甲酯。由于不同油脂原料所生产的生物柴油的脂肪酸甲脂组成不同因而测定时所需的气相色谱条件与方法也不尽相同[4-6]。本文采用HP-innowax毛细管色谱柱,     

On-line hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters in capillary gas chromatography

An injection splitter in front of a glass capillary column was used for the hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) mixtures. Hydrogenation followed by gas chromatographic analysis on capillary columns permitted detection and identification in complicated natural mixtures of branched fatty acids, showing minor structural differences, in quantities down to 10^?8g. The technique described, apart from its suitability for FAME analysis, shows promise for structure determination studies of other classes of compounds.     

Enantiomeric separation of various lipoxygenase derived monohydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters by high-performance liquid chromatography

Lipoxygenase derived monohydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters were separated by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a Chiralcel OD-H column in the normal-phase mode. Major lipoxygenase derivatives of linoleic, -linolenic and arachidonic acids are well resolved by this column, provided they have been individually purified. Our method allows an easy and rapid determination of lipoxygenases enantioselectivity. In all cases tested the R enantiomer is eluted first.     

Determination of fatty acid methyl esters derived from algae Scenedesmus dimorphus biomass by GC–MS with one‐step esterification of free fatty acids and transesterification of glycerolipids

Algae can synthesize, accumulate and store large amounts of lipids in its cells, which holds immense potential as a renewable source of biodiesel. In this work, we have developed and validated a GC–MS method for quantitation of fatty acids and glycerolipids in forms of fatty acid methyl esters derived from algae biomass. Algae Scenedesmus dimorphus dry mass was pulverized by mortar and pestle, then extracted by the modified Folch method and fractionated into free fatty acids and glycerolipids on aminopropyl solid‐phase extraction cartridges. Fatty acid methyl esters were produced by an optimized one‐step esterification of fatty acids and transesterification of glycerolipids with boron trichloride/methanol. The matrix effect, recoveries and stability of fatty acids and glycerolipids in algal matrix were first evaluated by spiking stable isotopes of pentadecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid and glyceryl tri(hexadecanoate‐2,2‐d₂) as surrogate analytes and tridecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid as internal standard into algal matrix prior to sample extraction. Later, the method was validated in terms of lower limits of quantitation, linear calibration ranges, intra‐ and inter‐assay precision and accuracy using tridecanoic‐2,2‐d₂ acid as internal standard. The method developed has been applied to the quantitation of fatty acid methyl esters from free fatty acid and glycerolipid fractions of algae Scenedesmus dimorphus .     

毛细管气相色谱法分离2-苯基羧酸酯对映体

手性2-芳基羧酸酯是制备手性非甾体抗炎药物2-芳基羧酸的重要的中间体,为了建立可用于2-苯基羧酸酯对映体分离的手性毛细管气相色谱法(CGC),分别使用2,6-二-O-戊基-3-O-丁酰基-β-环糊精及2,6-二-O-苄基-3-O-庚酰基-β-环糊精作毛细管气相色谱手性固定相,研究了其对2-苯基丁酸甲酯、2-苯基丁酸乙酯、2-苯基丁酸异丙酯、2-苯基丙酸甲酯及2-苯基丙酸环戊酯等5种2-苯基羧酸酯对映体的分离能力。结果表明,用2,6-二-O-戊基-3-O-丁酰基-β-环糊精及2,6-二-O-苄基-3-O-庚酰基-β-环糊精作手性固定相的毛细管气相色谱法可以分离2-苯基丁酸甲酯、2-苯基丙酸甲酯和2-苯基丙酸环戊酯对映体。2,6-二-O-戊基-3-O-丁酰基-β-环糊精对3种2-苯基羧酸酯对映体的分离能力超过了2,6-二-O-苄基-3-O-庚酰基-β-环糊精。     

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.     

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.     

Characterization of fatty acid methyl esters by thermal analysis

The thermal stability of selected straight-chain (C₆-C₁₄) esters of fatty acids has been studied by TG-DTG and DTA analysis. In DTG, a peak is detected between 84° and 125° C followed by a main effect in the range 105°–215°C, whereas in DTA only an exothermic peak appears in the range of 126.5° to 187°C (onset temperatures). The temperatures of these effects have been related with ignition points, molecular weights and boiling points. The characteristics of melting and recrystallization of the above fatty acid methyl esters and those with carbon numbers between C₁₄ and C₂₄ have been established by DSC along the melting range between ?83° and 50°C. Polymorphism appears in caproic, heptanoic, palmitic and stearic acid methyl esters.     

Separation of fatty acid methyl esters by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with packed columns and programming of sampling duration

Fatty acid methyl esters from various fats and oils were separated by comprehensive two-dimensional supercritical fluid chromatography with conventional packed columns and FID detection. The first dimension was a silica gel column and the second dimension was an ODS column. This combination was largely orthogonal for the separation of fatty acid methyl esters. The first dimension separations were primarily based on the number of double bonds while the second dimension separations were based on the chain length. The highly-ordered chromatograms and improved resolution allowed the easy detection and identification of minor components. Although the first dimension separations were performed under isobaric conditions where the peak width increased in proportion to the retention, the programming of the sampling duration allowed us to maintain the optimum re-injection frequency (3–4 times) per peak into the second dimension and so to minimize the total analysis time without deteriorating the resolution.     

Flow of the carrier gas in open-tubular capillary columns in temperature-programmed gas chromatography

A second-order non-linear partial different equation was derived to describe the dependence of carrier gas pressure in the column on the column distance and the time under temperature programmed conditions. This equation was solved numerically by the modified finite difference method for various column parameters. Constant inlet and outlet pressures were used as boundary conditions. The retention times calculated on assumption of a constant pressure profile along the column. Significant differences between retention times of corresponding solutes calculated by the two methods were found, especially when relatively long columns(L>50m) with small internal diameter(d<0.3mm)and high temperature program rates (r>5°/min)are used.     

Analysis of sucrose fatty acid esters by high temperature gas chromatography

A commercially available high temperature GC system has been investigated to determine its suitability for the automated analysis of sucrose fatty acid esters. In comparison with conventional GC, the high temperature variety broadens the scope of the technique to encompass high molecular weight carbohydrate derivatives while maintaining high separation efficiency. Despite the broad range of polarities, simultaneous quantification of educts and sucrose fatty acid ester fractions is possible in one run, after derivatization. Chromatographic requirements, sample preparation, structure verification by direct chemical ionization mass spectrometry, and advantages and limitations of the high temperature GC-analysis are discussed.     

Separation of T-MAZ ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters by reverse phase chromatography

Summary The method for determination of T-MAZ ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters is described. This work demonstrates that with a less retentive C₈ alkyl bonded phase packing, reverse phase chromatography can be used to analyze nonionic polymer mixtures with a molecular weight range of 900 to 1500. Using a gradient elution, a complete separation of T-MAZ oligomers was achieved, comparable to that obtained by Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC). Isocratic elution is used to quantify T-MAZ and the detection limit is 321 ppm, which is acceptable for polymers with high molecular weights and no UV-absorbing chromophores. This work also shows the comparison of the separations of T-MAZ using gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase chromatography.     

Separation of conjugated linoleic acid methyl esters by silver-ion high performance liquid chromatography in semi-preparative mode

Silver-ion HPLC (Ag-HPLC) has been utilized to separate a variety of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by configuration, location or number of olefinic or acetylenic bonds. Two analytical Ag-HPLC columns connected in series and an isocratic solvent system of acetonitrile (ACN) in hexane were used to fractionate 10-15 mg samples of a mixture of two deuterium-labeled isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (Z9.E11- and Z9,Z11-octadecadienoic acid-17,17,18,18-d4). "Baseline" (> 95%) resolution of the two isomers, which decreased with increasing weights of sample injected, was maintained by careful adjustment of the percentage of ACN in the ACN/hexane solvent system. Chemical purities of the isolated FAME were > 96%.     

Evaluation of porous graphitic carbon as stationary phase for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters by liquid chromatography

Summary Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been analysed as methyl esters by liquid chromatography on porous graphitic carbon and the results compared with those obtained on octadecyl bonded phases. Chromatographic behaviour on octadecyl bonded phases arises principally as a result of hydrophobic interactions with the bonded phase. Because the retention of analytes is greater on porous graphitic carbon than on octadecyl phases, organic mobile phases are required. When the number of double bonds is low (ca 1–3), the behaviour of porous graphitic carbon is similar to that of octadecyl bonded phases, but when this number increases stronger interactions with the flat surface of the graphite appear, resulting in new selectivity. These two ‘reversed-phase’ systems are considered complementary for separation of different fatty acid methyl esters. An additional advantage of porous graphitic carbon is that it enables isolation of hexadecartrienoic and hexadecadienoic acids, which are not available commercially.