Calculation of retention indices in programmed-temperature gas chromatography by improved linear interpolation

In order to determine the retention indices of compounds in programmed-temperature gas chromatography as precisely as possible, a series of hydrocarbons having successive carbon numbers is mixed with the solution. The addition of reference products to complex mixtures often results in peak interferences; by adding paraffins with even carbon numbers only, the risk of overlapping of peaks diminishes at the expense of precision. This paper describes a method of improved linear interpolation which gives reliable results of the same accuracy as would have been obtained if the whole series of alkanes had been added. Computer programs have been designed for calculations based on linear as well as improved linear interpolations in on-line and off-line applications.     

Kovats and lee retention indices determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for organic compounds of environmental interest

Retention indices of standard organic compounds of environmental interest were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, using a DB-5 fused-silica capillary column. Retention indices are useful references for tentative compound identification by gas chromatography, or confirmation by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. They provide elution order for isomers that might be indistinguishable based on mass spectra. Modified Kovats and Lee retention indices are given for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; sulfur heterocycles; nitrogen heterocycles; aromatic amines; oxygen heterocycles; phenols; alcohols; ketones; alkanes; nitriles; and methylesters of fatty, dicarboxylic, and aromatic acids for comparison and reference. Retention index values for heterocycles by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry are comparable with gas chromatography values previously reported.     

Enantiomer separation of flavour and fragrance compounds by liquid chromatography using novel urea-covalent bonded methylated beta-cyclodextrins on silica

A novel methylated beta-cyclodextrin chiral stationary phase (CSP-ME), which was chemically immobilised onto porous silica via multiple urea-linkages was synthesised. The CSP-ME chiral stationary phase depicted good enantiomer separation abilities for some well-known flavour as well as fragrance compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography under reverse phase conditions. The optimum resolution for alpha-ionone, 3-methyl-alpha-ionone, flavanone, 5-methoxyflavanone, 6-methoxyflavanone, 7-methoxyflavanone, hesperetin, naringenin and taxifolin was achieved using a mobile phase composition consisting of 1 wt.% triethylammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.68)-methanol. The effects of pH of triethylammonium acetate buffer and the methanol-acetonitrile content of the mobile phase composition on their retention time and resolution were examined to optimise the separation conditions.     

Characterisation of lavender essential oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with correlation of linear retention indices and comparison with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Nine samples of lavender essential oil were analysed by GC–MS using low-polarity and polar capillary columns. Linear retention indices (LRI) were calculated for each component detected. Characterisation of the individual components making up the oils was performed with the use of an mass spectrometry (MS) library developed in-house. The MS library was designed to incorporate the chromatographic data in the form of linear retention indices. The MS search routine used linear retention indices as a post-search filter and identification of the “unknowns” was made more reliable as this approach provided two independent parameters on which the identification was based. Around 70% of the total number of components in each sample were reliably characterised. A total of 85 components were identified. Semi-quantitative analysis of the same nine samples was performed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID). The identified components accounted for more than 95% of each oil. By comparing the GC–MS results with the results from the GC×GC–FID analysis of a lavender essential oil, many more components could be found within the two-dimensional separation space.     

Calculation of retention indices in temperature-programmed gas chromatography

Summary A new method is presented for the calculation of the retention indices under linear temperature programming with or without an initial isothermal period. The data calculated by the method are in good agreement with the isothermal retention indices.     

Determination of fragrance allergens in cosmetics by size-exclusion chromatography followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the quantitation of 24 restricted allergenic fragrance compounds in cosmetic samples. To achieve reproducible results fragrance calibration has to be performed with propyl acetate as a solvent containing a constant proportion of matrix components. With the exception of hydroxycitronellal (66+/-5%) all compounds showed good recovery rates in the range of 90-120%. The mean accuracy (relative error) was 1+/-10% for all 24 compounds in five spiked creams (10 mg/kg per allergen) and 8+/-34% in a reference sample (4-15 mg/kg). The biggest benefit compared to other methods is the flexible clean up with SEC which allows the determination of a large range of compounds in difficult matrices with GC-MS.     

Discovery of mass spectral characteristics and automatic identification of wax esters from gas chromatography mass spectrometry data

The mass spectral characteristics of wax esters were systemically summarized and interpreted through data mining of their standard mass spectra taken from NIST standard mass spectral library. Combining with the rules of retention indices described in the previous study, an automatic system was subsequently developed to identify the structural information for wax esters from GC/MS data. After tested and illustrated by both simulated and real GC/MS data, the results indicate that this system could identify wax esters except the polyunsaturated ones and the mass spectral characteristics are useful and effective information for identification of wax esters.     

气相色谱-离子阱质谱联用测定玩具中21种致敏性芳香剂

建立了气相色谱-离子阱质谱联用测定布绒、贴纸和塑料玩具中苯甲醇等21种致敏性芳香剂的方法。对于布绒和贴纸玩具样品,采用丙酮超声振荡提取20 min后过0.45 μm滤膜,经HP-1MS色谱柱(50 m×0.2 mm×0.5 μm)分离,离子阱质谱检测。对于塑料玩具样品,采取溶解-沉淀方式提取,经Envi-carb石墨化碳固相萃取小柱净化,旋蒸、氮吹浓缩,过0.45 μm滤膜后进行测定,外标法定量。方法对不同物质的定量限(LOQ)为0.02～40 mg/kg,线性范围为0.002～50 mg/L,低、中、高3个添加水平的平均回收率为82.2%～110.8%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.6%～10.5%。该方法准确、灵敏,可用于玩具中苯甲醇等21种致敏性芳香剂含量的检测。     

Optimisation of a complete method for the analysis of volatiles involved in the flavour stability of beer by solid-phase microextraction in combination with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry was used for the quantification of 32 volatiles which represent the typical chemical reactions that can occur during beer ageing. Detection was accomplished by employing on-fibre derivatisation using o-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBHA) and normal HS-SPME extraction. The procedures were optimised for SPME fibre selection, PFBHA loading temperature and time, extraction temperature and time, and effect of salt addition. Interference of matrix effects was overcome by calibrating according to the standard addition method and by using internal standards. Afterwards, the method was validated successfully and was applied to study the flavour stability of different beer types.     

Curie-point pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the identification of paint media

Curie-point pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been applied to different model paint samples containing proteinaceous (egg yolk) and oily (linseed oil) media. Results of pyrolysis at 610°C are highly reproducible, and among the different pyrolysis products some compounds diagnostic for the different binders have been identified. The application of the method to real samples, i.e. from the oil painting ‘Ritratto’ by Giuseppe Nogari (1669–1763) and from the tempera paint on the ligneous roof of S. Giobbe church (16th century) in Venice, proves its effectiveness in the identification of binding media.     

气相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定化妆品中28种香料成分北大核心CSCD

随着化妆品种类的日益增多,化妆品中的香精香料成分受到了越来越多人的关注,建立化妆品中香精香料成分的分析测定方法是消除人们担忧最有效的措施之一。该研究建立了气相色谱-串联质谱(GC-MS/MS)同时测定化妆品中28种香料残留的方法。样品由甲醇提取,含油脂较多的经中性氧化铝固相萃取小柱净化,色素多、基质复杂的由QuEChERS净化,待测物采用GC-MS/MS测定,以保留时间和特征离子对定性,外标法定量。实验结果表明,分析物质的检出限(S/N=3)为2~20μg/kg,定量限(S/N>10)为5~50μg/kg。28种物质分别在1~100、2~200、4~200、10~1 000μg/L范围内线性关系良好,分析物质的线性相关系数(r^(2))>0.999。在空白样品中添加28种香料,添加水平为50~500μg/kg时,回收率范围为71.3%~120.4%, RSD范围为1.5%~14.6%。该方法可对28种香料成分进行准确测定,不但可以有效排除复杂基体的干扰,而且简单、灵敏、稳定,能够很好地应用于化妆品中香料的含量测定。通过该方法对16种化妆品中的香精香料成分进行测定,发现12种化妆品中均检出相关香料成分,说明化妆品中的香精香料安全应引起重视。     

The temperature dependence of retention indices in gas chromatography

Summary A linear dependence of (T–T₁)/[1(T)–1(T₁)] on temperature (considering the retention index 1(T₁) at temperature T₁ as a standard value) is derived. Both ther retention index at an assigned temperature and the temperature dependence of the retention index can be calculated from retention data measured at two temperature-programing rates.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography, retention indices and time-of-flight mass spectra of flavonoids and chalcones

The applicability of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) for flavonoids analysis was investigated by separation and identification of flavonoids in standards, and a complex matrix natural sample. The modulation temperature was optimized to achieve the best separation and signal enhancement. The separation pattern of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of flavonoids was compared on two complementary column sets. Whilst the BPX5/BPX50 (NP/P) column set offers better overall separation, BPX50/BPX5 (P/NP) provides better peak shape and sensitivity. Comparison of the identification power of GC×GC-TOFMS against both the NIST05 MS library and a laboratory (created in-house) TOFMS library was carried out on a flavonoid mixture. The basic retention index information on high-performance capillary columns with a non-polar stationary phase was established and database of mass spectra of trimethylsilyl derivatives of flavonoids was compiled. TOFMS coupled to GC×GC enabled satisfactory identification of flavonoids in complex matrix samples at their LOD over a range of 0.5-10 μg/mL. Detection of all compounds was based on full-scan mass spectra and for each compound a characteristic ion was chosen for further quantification. This study shows that GC×GC-TOFMS yields high specificity for flavonoids derived from real natural samples, dark chocolate, propolis, and chrysanthemum.     

Evaluation of different internal-diameter column combinations in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography in flavour and fragrance analysis

A series of OV1-OV1701 column sets, in which the two dimensions differ in id and/or film thickness, were adopted to separate components of the volatile and semivolatile fraction of samples of plant origin. In particular two applications are presented: a target analysis approach to determine volatile suspected allergens in a medium-complexity fragrance and in sandalwood essential oil, and a fingerprint analysis approach to compare herbal extracts. Some basic chromatographic parameters of these combinations, i. e. net separation measure (S(GC x GC)), degree of orthogonality and a suitable number of modulations per peak, were also estimated by analysing two test mixtures: FAME (C4:0-C24:0) and suspected volatile allergens. Experimental results show that 0.25 mm homologous id column combination, despite their lower separation power, have good capacity to separate and resolve medium-to-complex fractions from samples of plant origin, demonstrating: (i) good system orthogonality, maximized through proper exploitation of stationary-phase selectivity and (ii) reduced 2-D column overloading effects due to the increased 2-D mass loadability, thus facilitating the analysis of mixtures whose components differ significantly in relative abundance.     

Analysis of triacetone triperoxide by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry by electron and chemical ionization

The explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) has been analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and sub-nanogram detection limits are reported by ammonia positive ion chemical ionization (PICI), electron ionization (EI) and methane negative ion chemical ionization (NICI). Analysis by methane PICI and ammonia NICI gave detection limits in the low nanogram range. Analyses were carried out on (linear) quadrupole and ion trap instruments. Analysis of TATP by PICI using ammonia reagent gas is the preferred analytical method, producing low limits of detection as well as an abundant (greater than 60% of base peak) diagnostic adduct ion at m/z 240 corresponding to [TATP + NH4]+. Isolation of the [TATP + NH4]+ ion with subsequent collision-induced dissociation (CID) produces extremely low abundance product ions at m/z values greater than 60, and the m/z 223 ion corresponding to [TATP + H]+ was not observed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B88LYP/DVZP level indicate that dissociation of the complex to form NH4+ and TATP occurs at energies lower than peroxide bond dissociation, while protonation of TATP leads to cleavage of the ring structure. These results provide a method for pico-gram detection levels of TATP using commercial instrumentation commonly available in forensic laboratories. As a point of comparison, a detection limit of 15 ng was obtained by flame ionization detection.     

Emergence temperature indices and relative retention times of pesticides and industrial chemicals determined by linear programmed temperature gas chromatography

Emergence temperature indices and relative retention times of nearly 600 pesticides and industrial chemicals are sequentially tabulated to provide a basis for the identification of unknowns detected on methyl silicone columns when programmed temperature gas chromatography is used. A technique of normalizing column parameters is described to enable duplication of the tabulated data on columns which have different dimensions, amount of stationary phase, and/or other operating parameters. Suggestions for enhancing the precision with which these data can be reproduced on other equipment are presented.     

Study on the photostability of guaiazulene by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The photostability of guaiazulene (1,4-dimethyl-7-isopropylazulene; GA), a natural azulenic compound used in cosmetic and health-care products, as well as in pharmaceutical preparations, was investigated in solution (methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile), by different techniques: gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography combined with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry and UV detection (LC/APCI-MS and HPLC/UV). A solar simulator (xenon-arc lamp) was used as UV-A radiation source. The study involved: monitoring compound decomposition, identifying products of photodegradation (PPs), assessing the role of oxygen and evaluating the kinetics of the process. Minor PPs are volatile compounds and were characterized by GC/MS, while oligomeric polyoxygenated compounds, tentatively characterized on the basis of MS and MS/MS spectra, were found to be the main photoproducts. The photodegradation was found to be enhanced by the presence of oxygen; nevertheless, determination of the singlet oxygen quantum yield for GA gave a lower value than that for the reference standard Rose Bengal. The obtained results and the developed stability-indicating methods (GC/MS and LC/MS) are of interest for stability studies and/or quality control purposes of GA as raw material or cosmetic products.