Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography: a powerful and versatile analytical tool

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) is a novel technique which is rapidly gaining importance for the analysis of complex samples. In the present review, attention is devoted to the principle and advantages, and main characteristics such as modulation, column combinations, detector requirements and data processing, of the technique. Specifically, GC×GC of a variety of real-life samples is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the technique, with emphasis on the usefulness of the ordered-structure principle and on the analyte-identification power provided by a combination with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection.     

Characterization of complex hydrocarbons in cigarette smoke condensate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron ionization and positive-ion chemical ionization and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-TOF-MS) were applied for the characterization of the chemical composition of complex hydrocarbons in the non-polar neutral fraction of cigarette smoke condensates. Automated data processing by TOF-MS software combined with structured chromatograms and manual review of library hits were used to assign the components from GC x GC-TOF-MS analysis. The distributions of aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatics were also investigated. Over 100 isoprenoid hydrocarbons were detected, including carotene degradation products, phytadiene isomers and carbocyclic diterpenoids. A total of 1800 hydrocarbons were tentatively identified, including aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatics, and isoprenoid hydrocarbons. The identified hydrocarbons by GC x GC-TOF-MS were far more than those by GC-MS.     

全二维气相色谱在石油地质样品分析中的应用进展

对石油地质样品的化学组成进行全面准确的剖析,可以获得丰富的地球化学信息,为油气勘探工作提供科学依据。然而,该类样品除了组成复杂之外,还易受到各种物理（如蒸发、乳化、扩散、溶解和吸附）、化学（如光降解）和生物（如微生物降解）过程的影响。这些特点给样品的分析研究工作带来了极大的困难,传统的一维气相色谱/质谱技术很难对其进行理想的分离。全二维气相色谱（GC×GC）作为新发展起来的一种分离技术,在复杂样品分析方面具有独特的优势,虽然在石油地质样品分析中的应用相对较晚,但也日益受到关注。本文主要综述了近5年来GC×GC在石油地质方面国内外的研究进展以及存在的主要问题,并对今后的研究进行了展望。     

Retention time locking procedure for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

In gas chromatography (GC) reproducible retention times are in many cases highly favorable or in some cases even required. In one-dimensional GC, retention time shifts can be eliminated or minimized using a procedure called retention time locking (RTL). This procedure is based on adjusting the (constant) column head pressure. Unfortunately, this RTL procedure cannot be used in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) given the fact that peaks will shift in both dimensions. Adjusting the column head pressure in GC × GC will only minimize or eliminate the primary retention time shifts. In this paper, a fast and easy to perform, two-step retention time locking procedure for two-dimensional gas chromatography (2D-RTL) is proposed and its feasibility is demonstrated. This 2D-RTL procedure involves adjustment of the column head pressure or constant column flow, followed by the adjustment of the so-called effective secondary column length. The secondary column length is increased or decreased, simply by moving it stepwise through the modulator. It is demonstrated that retention time shifts in both the primary- and secondary-dimension, which may occur after e.g. replacing the column set, can be minimized to less than half peak base width. The proposed 2D-RTL procedure is used successfully for approximately 1 year in our laboratory.     

Data analysis programs for comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography

User-friendly and easy-to-use laboratory-written programs for visualisation and interpretation of comprehensive two-dimensional chromatographic data were developed. The programs that are not tied to any particular commercial instrument, and data obtained either by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid (LC × LC) or gas (GC × GC) chromatography can be analysed. Operations of the programs allow visualisation of 2D and 3D plots, comparison of two 2D plots at a time, as well as determination of retention times and peak heights and volumes.     

Determination of aromatic hydrocarbons in gasolines by flow modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Valve based/flow modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC x GC-FID) was used for quantification of C6 through C12 aromatic hydrocarbons by carbon number in gasolines. A 0.53 mm i.d. non-polar first dimension column was coupled to a 0.53 mm i.d. polar second dimension column through a double loop eight port valve modulator. Depending on the sample type, normalized percent and internal standard (I.S.) quantification was performed. For normalized percent quantification, a one-point calibration performed with one aromatic compound per carbon number/class provided an average % accuracy of 2.1% and a short-term n--1 relative standard deviation of 1.0%. For total aromatic compounds good agreement with the more complex conventional multidimensional GC technique was obtained. However, GC x GC has certain advantages over most other methods, mainly increased selectivity for total and carbon number aromatic content. The identification of the aromatic hydrocarbons was confirmed by GC x GC-MS.     

全二维气相色谱-质谱分析煤油基吸热型碳氢燃料烃族组成

采用全二维气相色谱-质谱联用（GC×GC-MS）考察了色谱柱系统、程序升温条件和调制周期3个主要因素对样品组分分离结果的影响,建立了煤油基吸热型碳氢燃料烃族组成的定性分析方法,并利用GC×GC-FID通过有效碳数校正因子对烃族组成进行定量。对选取的9种燃料的分析结果表明,该方法对链烷烃和环烷烃的定量结果与标准方法ASTM D2425的结果高度一致,相对误差基本均在±10%以内。利用该方法计算的碳含量结果与元素分析法相比误差均在0.5%以下。该方法无需复杂的前处理,稀释后可直接进样分析,操作简单,而且可直观地看出不同样品之间的差异,为改进燃料的性能提供了必要的分析手段。     

Dynamic interconversion of chiral oxime compounds in gas chromatography

A number of chiral oxime compounds have been synthesised and their gas chromatographic analysis on both a polyethelene glycol phase column and two chiral column phases was investigated. Of particular interest to this work is the observation of dynamic interconversion behaviour, both in a single dimensional analysis, and by using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC). A number of non-chiral compounds were studied as a means to understand the nature of the behaviour observed. As expected, the achiral compound on both the wax column and the chiral column generated two isomeric compounds—the E and Z isomers. On the wax column, a characteristic interconversion zone representing the dynamic process was observed, with extent of interconversion dependent on the conditions used. For the chiral compounds, two isomers and the interconversion zone were exhibited on the wax column, however on the chiral column 4 isomeric peaks were found—the (R) and (S) enantiomers of each of the E and Z isomers. In the case of the chiral column, the extent of interconversion was negligible, and this appears to correlate with the use of low polarity columns. In order to encourage dynamic interconversion, a polyethylene glycol column was coupled to the chiral column, by placing it either before or after the chiral column. In this case a monitor detector was employed between the two columns in order to isolate the effects of the first column from the behaviour on the second. In a further study, the most appropriate column arrangement from the earlier study was placed into a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography instrument, with a wax-phase column in the second dimension. The unique location of peaks for each of the molecules in 2D space and patterns for the interconversion processes is interpreted phenomenologically.     

全二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱分析焦化柴油中饱和烃的分子组成

建立了全二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱(GC×GC-TOF MS)分析柴油馏分中饱和烃的分子组成的方法。结合谱库检索、质谱图解析、沸点与分子结构关系和全二维谱图特征,定性(或归类)了焦化柴油饱和烃组分中1057个化合物单体,其中正构烷烃排列规律性最强,一环~三环环烷烃按照极性和沸点的差异呈瓦片状分布在其上方。另外,还准确区分了在一维气相色谱上共流出的正构烷基环己烷和正构烷基环戊烷,以及正构 α 单烯烃。根据质谱采集的总离子流色谱图,采用峰面积归一化法得到了饱和烃组分的碳数分布结果,并将该方法应用于研究不同类型柴油馏分饱和烃的分子组成特点。结果表明,催化裂化和焦化柴油馏分饱和烃组分的化合物类型和分布各不相同。分子组成分析能为油品加工工艺机理的研究提供方法支持。     

Evaluation of fast gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the analysis of lipids

Fast and conventional gas chromatography (GC) techniques were applied to nine different lipidic matrices (butter, lard, tallow, and peanut, corn, sunflower, soya, olive, menhaden oils). Simultaneous methylic transesterification was performed on all samples prior to GC analysis. Several practical aspects concerning high speed analysis were investigated, such as the great increase in linear velocity, the use of fast temperature ramps, column sample capacity and detection systems. Analytical results showed certain losses in resolution, balanced by a consistent reduction in analysis time. The actual time savings were variable (60-70 min) as they were dependent on the complexity of the sample while the speed enhancement factor was equal to 10.5. Peak identification was achieved by means of different information sources, such as fast GC-mass spectrometry (MS), linear retention indices and comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography group patterns. The method developed was shown to be applicable in routine applications on complex natural samples.     

Investigation of sulphur compounds in coal tar using monodimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Coal is a non renewable fossil fuel, used mainly as a source of electrical energy and in the production of coke. It is subjected to thermal treatment, pyrolysis, which produces coke as a main product, in addition to a condensed liquid by-product, called tar. Tar is a complex mixture of organic compounds which contains different chemical classes, presenting aromatic and sulphur heterocyclic compounds. In general, identification of these compounds requires steps of isolation and fractionation, mainly due to co-elution of these compounds with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The objective of this work is to characterize the sulphur compounds present in the coal tar obtained via pyrolysis, using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detector (GC×GC/TOFMS). Coal samples from the State of Paraná, Brazil were subjected to laboratorial scale pyrolysis. Several experimental conditions were tested, such as sample weight (5, 10 and 15g), heating ramp (10, 25 and 100°C/min) and final temperature (500, 700 and 900°C). Samples were analyzed by one dimensional gas chromatography (1D-GC) coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometry detector (GC/qMS) and two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detector (GC×GC/TOFMS). The higher amount of sulphur compounds was obtained at a final temperature of 700°C and a heating ramp of 100°C/min. The main classes observed in the color plot were thiophenes, benzothiophenes and alkylated dibenzothiophenes. GC×GC/TOFMS allowed the identification of the greater number of compounds and the separation of several sulphur compounds from one another. Moreover, separation of sulphur compounds from polyaromatic hydrocarbons and phenols was achieved, which was not possible by 1D-GC. Comparing GC×GC/TOFMS and 1D-GC (SIM mode) also showed that 1D-GC, one of the most employed quantification tools for sulphur compounds, can be misleading for detection, identification and quantification, as the number of isomers of sulphur compounds found was greater than theoretically possible.     

气流吹扫-注射器微萃取-全二维气相色谱法用于原油组分的表征

建立了气流吹扫-注射器微萃取（GP-MSE）与全二维气相色谱/飞行时间质谱（GC×GC/TOFMS）联用分析原油成分的方法。为了找到适用于原油样品分析的GP-MSE条件,用饱和烃混合标准溶液和15种芳烃的混合标准溶液进行了条件优化,得到的最佳条件如下:取样量5 mg、萃取溶剂正己烷20 μ L、载气流速2 mL/min、加热时间3 min、加热温度300 ℃、冷凝温度-2 ℃。处理后的样品在全二维色谱/飞行时间质谱上进样分析,得到了满意结果。方法的检出限为34~93 μg/L,线性相关系数（R²）>0.99,对50种烃类化合物的回收率在82.0%~107.3%之间,相对标准偏差<10%（n=5）。结果表明GP-MSE-GC×GC/TOFMS法是一种新型绿色、高效、灵敏的分析方法,非常适合原油中挥发性与半挥发性组分的分析。     

全二维气相色谱分析持久性有机污染物的应用进展

持久性有机污染物（POPs）组分复杂,在自然界中超痕量存在,其分离分析十分困难。全二维气相色谱（GC×GC）作为一种新型色谱技术,与传统的一维气相色谱相比,具有峰容量大、分辨率和灵敏度高等优势,越来越广泛地应用于环境有机污染物的分析。该文综述了近十年来全二维气相色谱在持久性有机污染物分析中的应用进展,主要包括全二维气相色谱在解决一些复杂POPs定性定量分析难题方面的应用,如二恶英、毒杀芬和短链氯化石蜡等;概述了全二维气相色谱对多种POPs同时定性定量分析的应用进展;讨论了全二维气相色谱在非目标有机污染物筛查分析中的应用,并对发展趋势及相关应用前景进行了总结展望。     

Modified semi-rotating cryogenic modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

A previously constructed semi-rotating cryogenic modulator was modified for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). The retention time repeatability was improved by replacing the modulator control program unit with a new system. Peak widths obtained with the modified modulator were comparable with those obtained with the previous modulator and other modulator types. The modulator was easy to construct and it can be installed in any commercial GC system. The constructed GC×GC–FID system and data obtained by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) were used for identification of unknowns in forest aerosol samples. Figure A semi-rotating cryogenic modulator in which modulation is based on two-step cryogenic trapping with continuously flowing carbon dioxide has been developed for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography     

全二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱联用技术分析重馏分油中芳烃组成

通过对升温速度、二维补偿温度、调制周期等关键实验参数的优化,建立了全二维气相色谱-飞行时间质谱(GC×GC-TOF MS)分析重馏分油中芳烃组分的方法,得到了重馏分油芳烃组分按环数分布的二维点阵图。根据谱库检索、标准化合物对照及文献报道,对重馏分油芳烃组分中菲、甲基菲及芘、苯并蒽等常见多环芳烃(PAH)进行了准确定性,并将该方法应用到重馏分油加氢处理工艺研究中,对菲、芘的加氢处理产物进行了定性分析。该研究为重馏分油芳烃组分的准确定性提供了新的技术手段,为加深对油品加氢规律的认识提供了技术支持。全二维气相色谱与普通一维色谱对比,在重馏分油的芳烃组分分析上体现了极大优势。     

启发式方法研究有机化合物在全二维气相色谱中的定量结构-保留关系

采用半经验量子化学PM3的方法计算出130个有机化合物的描述符,用启发式方法分别对化合物在全二维气相色谱的3支色谱柱上的保留值建立了相应的定量结构-保留相关模型,并对模型进行了检验。所建模型呈现较好的线性,相关系数的平方(R2)均大于0.88,标准偏差（S）均小于0.105,留一法交互检验的相关系数的平方(R2cv)与所建模型的R2相当,说明模型具有良好的稳定性。化合物的预测结果显示所建模型有较准确的预测能力。     

Prediction of the physicochemical properties of gasoline by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and multivariate data processing

The estimation of physicochemical parameters such as distillation points and relative densities still plays an important role in the quality control of gasoline and similar fuels. Their measurements according to standard ASTM procedures demands specific equipments and are time and work consuming. An alternative method to predict distillation points and relativity density by multivariate analysis of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC×GC-FID) data is presented here. Gasoline samples, previously tested according to standard methods, were used to build regression models, which were evaluated by external validation. The models for distillation points were built using variable selection methods, while the model for relativity density was built using the whole chromatograms. The root mean square prediction differences (RMSPD) obtained were 0.85%, 0.48%, 1.07% and 1.71% for 10, 50 and 90% v/v of distillation and for the final point of distillation, respectively. For relative density, the RMSPD was 0.24%. These results suggest that GC×GC-FID combined with multivariate analysis can be used to predict these physicochemical properties of gasoline.     

Identification of potent odourants in wine and brewed coffee using gas chromatography-olfactometry and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Volatile constituents in wine and brewed coffee were analyzed using a combined system incorporating both GC-olfactometry (GC-O) and comprehensive two-dimensional GC-flame ionization detection (GC×GC-FID). A column set consisting of a 15m first dimension ((1)D; DB-FFAP (free fatty acid phase)), and a 1.0m (2)D column (DB-5 phase) was applied to achieve the GC×GC separation of the volatile extracts isolated by using solid phase extraction (SPE). While 1D GC resulted in many overlapping peaks, GC×GC allowed resolution of co-eluting compounds which coincided with the odour region located using GC-O. Character-impact odourants were tentatively identified through data correlation of GC×GC contour plots across results obtained using either time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), or with flame photometric detection (FPD) for sulfur speciation. The odourants 2-methyl-2-butenal, 2-(methoxymethyl)-furan, dimethyl trisulfide, 2-ethyl-5-methyl-pyrazine, 2-octenal, 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 3-mercapto-3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methoxy-3-(2-methylpropyl)-pyrazine, 2-furanmethanol and isovaleric acid were suspected to be particularly responsible for coffee aroma using this approach. The presented methodology was applied to identify the potent odourants in two different Australian wine varietals. 1-Octen-3-ol, butanoic acid and 2-methylbutanoic acid were detected in both Merlot and a Sauvignon Blanc+Semillon (SV) blend with high aroma potency. Several co-eluting peaks of ethyl 4-oxo-pentanoate, 3,7-dimethyl-1,5,7-octatrien-3-ol, (Z)-2-octen-1-ol, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,3-dioxane were likely contributors to the Merlot wine aroma; while (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, β-phenylethyl acetate, hexanoic acid and co-eluting peaks of 3-ethoxy-1-propanol and hexyl formate may contribute to SV wine aroma character. The volatile sulfur compound 2-mercapto-ethyl acetate was believed to contribute a fruity, brothy, meaty, sulfur odour to Australian Merlot and SV wines.