Ruggedness and other performance characteristics of low-pressure gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the fast analysis of multiple pesticide residues in food crops

Low-pressure gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (LP-GC-MS) using a quadrupole MS instrument was further optimized and evaluated for the fast analysis of multiple pesticide residues in food crops. Performance of two different LP-GC-MS column configurations was compared in various experiments, including ruggedness tests with repeated injections of pesticides in matrix extracts. The tested column configurations employed the same 3 m x 0.15 mm i.d. restriction capillary at the inlet end, but different analytical columns attached to the vacuum: (A) a 10 m x 0.53 mm i.d., 1 microm film thickness RTX-5 Sil MS column; and (B) a 10 m x 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 microm film thickness DB-5MS column. Under the optimized conditions (compromise between speed and sensitivity), the narrower analytical column with a thinner film provided slightly (<1.1-fold) faster analysis of <5.5 min separation times and somewhat greater separation efficiency. However, lower detection limits for most of the tested pesticides in real extracts were achieved using the mega-bore configuration, which also provided significantly greater ruggedness of the analysis (long-term repeatability of analyte peak intensities, shapes, and retention times). Additionally, the effect of the increasing injection volume (1-5 microl) on analyte signal-to-noise ratios was evaluated. For the majority of the tested analyte-matrix combinations, the increase in sensitivity caused by a larger injection did not translate in the same gain in analyte detectability. Considering the costs and benefits, the injection volume of 2-3 microl was optimal for detectability of the majority of 57 selected pesticides in apple, carrot, lettuce, and wheat extracts.     

Multidimensional gas chromatographic separation of selected PCB atropisomers in technical formulations and sediments

A simple dual-column gas chromatographic system with a six-port switching valve has been used to separate the atropisomers of PCB congeners 84, 91, and 95 in technical PCB formulations and in extracts of soil and river sediment. A capillary column coated with a methylphenylsiloxane stationary phase (CP-Sil 8) was used as the first column, for retention window selection, and a permethylated β-cyclodextrin (ChirasilDex) capillary column as the main separation column. Because peak overlap could not be eliminated by optimization of column temperature, the enantiomeric ratios of PCB congeners could not be determined from the original chromatograms. The correct enantiomer ratio was determined from the peak areas obtained by deconvolution of the chromatograms. Whereas the PCB atropisomers considered were present in equal concentrations in the technical PCB formulations, analysis of a river sediment sample confirmed different residual concentrations of the atropisomers of congener 95.     

Possibilities and limitations of quadrupole mass spectrometric detector in fast gas chromatography

In this work the application and limitations of a common bench top quadrupole mass spectrometer was evaluated for the qualitative and quantitative measurement of n-alkanes and pesticides of a wide range of volatilities and polarities with fast GC separations using 0.15 mm I.D. narrow-bore capillary columns. It was found that the spectra acquisition rate has a great impact on sensitivity (peak areas, peak shapes and S/N ratios). The quality of the obtained spectra is not significantly influenced in the full scan monitoring mode for the fastest scan rates. For quantitative analysis a selected ion monitoring mode is able to acquire the sufficient number of data-points for the proper peak shape reconstruction and good repeatability of peak areas measurements expressed by RSD (< 5%) for all tested dwell times shorter than 75 ms. However, for shorter dwell times, S/N ratio is lower, while peak areas are not influenced.     

Improved congener-specific GC analysis of chlorobiphenyls on coupled CPSil-8 and HT-5 columns

The congener-specific analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by high resolution gas chromatography on a 50 m × 0.25 mm fused silica column coated with a 0.26 μm film of 5% diphenyl polydimethylsiloxane (CPSil-8) has been significantly improved by series coupling with a 25 m × 0.22 mm column coated with a 0.10 μm film of 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecarborane polydimethylsiloxane (HT-5). Using helium as carrier gas, a total of 64 congeners in technical PCB mixtures could be analyzed as resolved peaks by ECD (86 by MS) with the CPSil-8 column, and 84 by ECD (108 by MS) with the combination. The high upper temperature limit for these stationary phases (>300°C) enabled fast temperature programming and rapid analysis (60 min).     

Possibilities and limitations of fast GC with narrow-bore columns

In this work, two narrow-bore capillary columns with different internal diameters (I.D.) 0.15 mm (15 m length, 0.15 microm film thickness) and 0.10 mm (10 m length, 0.10 microm film thickness) with the same stationary phase (5% diphenyl 95% dimethylsiloxane), phase ratio and separation power were compared with regard to their advantages, practical limitations and applicability in fast GC on commercially available instrumentation. The column comparison concerns fast GC method development, speed and separation efficiency, the sample transfer into the column utilizing split and splitless inlet, sample capacity, detection (analysing compounds of a wide range of polarities and volatilities--even n-alkanes C16-C28 and selected pesticides) and ruggedness (in the field of ultratrace analysis of pesticide residues in real matrix). Under conditions corresponding to speed/separation efficiency trade-off 0.10 mm I.D. versus 0.15 mm I.D. column provides a speed gain of 1.74, but all other parameters investigated were better for the 0.15 mm I.D. column concerning more efficient sample transfer from inlet to the column using splitless injection, no discrimination with split injection. Better sample capacity (three times higher for the 0.15 mm than for the 0.10 mm I.D. column) resulted in improved ruggedness and simpler fast GC-MS method development.     

Trace analysis of pesticide residues in water by high-speed narrow-bore capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with programmable temperature vaporizer

A method for the rapid trace analysis of 17 residual pesticides in water by narrow-bore capillary (I.D. 100 microm) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using a programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV) was discussed. The method consisted of a large-volume injection (40 microl) by a PTV, high-speed analysis using a narrow-bore capillary column and MS detection. The PTV with solvent vent mode was very useful for large-volume injection into a narrow-bore capillary column because the injected solvent volume could be reduced to less than 2 microl. The analysis time was 8.5 min [less than 50% of the analysis time using conventional columns (I.D. 250 microm)]. A 10-ml volume of river water was extracted by dichloromethane (4 ml), and then the extract was condensed to 1 ml. This extract was analyzed. Mean recoveries for river water spiked at 100 pg/ml ranged from 83.4 to 96.7%. The limit of detections of the 17 pesticides ranged from 1 to 100 pg/ml.     

High-throughput analysis of bergamot essential oil by fast solid-phase microextraction-capillary gas chromatography-flame ionization detection

The advantages of using a narrow-bore column in headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatographic (HS-SPME-GC) analysis are investigated. An automated rapid HS-SPME-GC method for the determination of volatile compounds in a complex sample (bergamot essential oil) was developed. A low-capacity (7 microm) SPME fibre was employed, enabling a short equilibration time (15 min). The absorbed volatile compounds were then separated in 12.5 min on a 10 m x 0.1 mm I.D. capillary. The fast GC method was characterized by relatively moderate GC parameters (head pressure: 173 kPa; temperature program rate: 12 degrees C/min). The employment of the low-capacity fibre also suited the reduced sample capacity of the capillary employed, hence column overloading was avoided. Analytical repeatibility was determined in terms of retention times (maximum RSD: 0.32%) and peak areas (maximum RSD: 9.80%). The results obtained were compared to those derived from a conventional HS-SPME-GC (a 30 microm SPME fibre and 0.25 mm I.D. capillary were used) application on the same sample. In this respect, a great reduction of analytical time was obtained both with regard to the conventional SPME equilibration and GC run times, which both required 50 min. Peak resolution was altogether comparable in both applications. Although a slight loss in terms of sensitivity was observed in the rapid approach (generally within the 25-50% range), this did not impair the detection of all peaks of interest. Finally, the selectivities of the 30 and 7 microm fibres were evaluated and, as expected, these were in good agreement.     

Qualitative evaluation of thermal desorption-programmable temperature vaporization-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the analysis of selected halogenated contaminants

The separation of 38 toxic and predominant polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 11 persistent halogenated pesticides, 1 brominated biphenyl (BB), and 8 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has been optimized using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-TOFMS). A thermal desorption-programmable temperature vaporization (TD-PTV) step was used for the injection. Different column sets were investigated, and a 100% dimethylpolysiloxane (15 m x 0.25 mm i.d. x 0.25 microm film thickness) narrowbore capillary column coupled to a high temperature (8% phenyl)-polycarborane-siloxane (2 m x 0.10 mm i.d. x 0.10 microm film thickness) microbore column set was selected. Of the 58 compounds investigated, only one pair of PCBs was not resolved. All other analytes were either baseline separated into the chromatographic plane or were virtually separated using the deconvolution capability of the TOFMS.     

Gas chromatography of 209 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners on an extremely efficient nonselective capillary column

The gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC–MS) separation of all 209 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners was studied on an extremely efficient 80 m × 0.1 mm i.d. capillary column coated with a 0.1 μm film of poly(5%-phenyl methyl)siloxane stationary phase. The quality of the separation and the number of resolved and coeluting peaks were compared to predictions according to the statistical overlap theory (SOT) and to literature data on PCB separations obtained by one-dimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GC × GC) and GC–MS. Mass spectral and chemometric deconvolution procedures were used to resolve overlapping peaks. On the highly efficient column, 195 PCB congeners were resolved in 96 min separation time using spectral and chemometric deconvolution. This number is comparable to the best separations described in GC × GC–MS mode. The novel method was developed for spectral deconvolution of overlapped PCB congeners which was verified determining the most toxic, dioxin-like PCBs both in the model mixture of 209 PCBs as well as in the Aroclor 1242 and Aroclor 1254 formulations.     

Porous glass as an efficient adsorbent for volatile atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyl congeners

Porous glass is a more efficient adsorbent than Amberlite XAD-2 resin for volatile polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) in the atmospheric vapour phase. The adsorption efficiencies for individual PCB congeners are compared by analysis of the extracts by capillary gas chromatography (electron-capture detection); individual congeners are used as reference compounds. Efficiencies for some di-, tri- and tetra-chlor congeners are between 1.7 and 7 times higher the porous glass than for XAD-2 resin; values for penta-, hexa- and hepta-chloro congeners are very similar. The calculated “total” PCB (as the sum of individual congeners) was about four times higher for porous glass, because of the contribution from congeners with low chlorine numbers. Commercial mixtures may not reflect the real composition of PCB mixtures in the atmosphere.     

Dual-column GC analysis of mediterranean fish for ten organochlorine pesticides and sixty two chlorobiphenyls

The simultaneous analysis of α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, HCB, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT, mirex, dieldrin and 62 chlorobiphenyl congeners on two parallel capillary GC columns of different polarity is described for nine Mediterranean fish species. Ten commercially available columns with stationary phases completely characterized in respect of their PCB elution patterns were considered for dual-column GC-ECD analysis. The combination of a 60 m × 0.25 mm i.d. column coated with a 0.25 μm film of 50% diphenyl dimethylsiloxane and a series combination of a 25 m × 0.25 mm i.d. column coated with a 0.25 μm film of 5% diphenyl dimethylsiloxane with a 25 m × 0.22 mm i.d. column coated with a 0.10 μm film of 1, 10-dicarba-closo-dodecarborane dimethylpolysiloxane furnished the highest number of separated chlorobiphenyl congeners (104). The dual-column GC system performed with high stability and reproducibility over a broad concentration range (1–3000 ng/g lipid) of the organochlorine compounds in the investigated fish.     

Packed columns vs. wall coated open tubular columns in quantitative analyses of polychlorinated biphenyls

This article describes and critically evaluates a complete method for the quantitation of PCB in sediment samples. The extraction and clean-up procedure is described. Packed column and capillary column results are compared. Capillary column quantitation yields lower values for total PCB loading. Preferences for capillary column quantitation are discussed and explained. Capillary quantitation is based on the combination of an external Aroclor standard and an internal decachlorobiphenyl standard for normalizing data. In light of the recent report of synthesis of all 209 PCB congeners a suggestion is made to use these as absolute standards to establish a bank of primary standard Aroclors.     

Fast gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry of polychlorinated biphenyls and other environmental contaminants

Practical applications of fast gas chromatography (GC) with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) are presented. A narrow-bore column (0.10-mm i.d.) is used to analyze over 100 specific polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in an Aroclor mix and a sediment sample in 10.5 min. Sample preparation is minimized for the sediment to more closely match the speed advantage gained by using fast GC-TOFMS. The possibility of using a 0.53-mm-i.d. column operated under vacuum-outlet conditions for fast GC-TOFMS is established for Aroclors and a suite of environmental contaminants. Fast acquisition rates and automated peak-find and spectral deconvolution capabilities are demonstrated for TOFMS.     

非等间隔PCBs保留指数体系在光解行为研究中的应用

利用Ｃｈｕ等已建立的多氯联苯（ＰＣＢｓ）非等间隔保留指数体系,由文献中的相对保留时间计算出全部２０９种ＰＣＢｓ同类物（Ｃｏｎｇｅｎｅｒ）的保留指数（ＩＰＣＢ）。利用ＩＰＣＢ结合ＧＣ－ＭＳ对ＰＣＢ８７、ＰＣＢ１３８和ＰＣＢ１６９三种同类物的光解产物进行了定性分析,发现其光解产物主要为低氯代联苯。实验结果证明,非等间隔保留指数体系ＩＰＣＢ在ＰＣＢｓ同类物的定性分析中具有准确、实用、快捷、方便等优点。     

Development of fast enantioselective gas-chromatographic analysis using gas-chromatographic method-translation software in routine essential oil analysis (lavender essential oil)

The study aimed to find the best trade-off between separation of the most critical peak pair and analysis time, in enantioselective GC–FID and GC–MS analysis of lavender essential oil, using the GC method-translation approach. Analysis conditions were first optimized for conventional 25 m × 0.25 mm inner diameter (d_c) column coated with 6^I–VII-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2^I–VII-3^I–VII-O-ethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) as chiral stationary phase (CSP) diluted at 30% in PS086 (polymethylphenylpolysiloxane, 15% phenyl), starting from routine analysis. The optimal multi-rate temperature program for a pre-set column pressure was determined and then used to find the pressures producing the efficiency-optimized flow (EOF) and speed-optimized flow (SOF). This method was transferred to a shorter narrow-bore (NB) column (11 m × 0.10 mm) using method-translation software, keeping peak elution order and separation. Optimization of the enantioselective GC method with the translation approach markedly reduced the analysis time of the lavender essential oil, from about 87 min with the routine method to 40 min with an optimal multi-rate temperature program and initial flow with a conventional inner diameter column, and to 15 min with FID as detector or 13.5 min with MS with a corresponding narrow-bore column, while keeping enantiomer separation and efficiency.     

Use of a polar ionic liquid as second column for the comprehensive two-dimensional GC separation of PCBs

The orthogonality of three columns coupled in two series was studied for the congener specific comprehensive two-dimensional GC separation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A non-polar capillary column coated with poly(5%-phenyl–95%-methyl)siloxane was used as the first (¹D) column in both series. A polar capillary column coated with 70% cyanopropyl-polysilphenylene-siloxane or a capillary column coated with the ionic liquid 1,12-di(tripropylphosphonium)dodecane bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl)imide were used as the second (²D) columns. Nine multi-congener standard PCB solutions containing subsets of all native 209 PCBs, a mixture of 209 PCBs as well as Aroclor 1242 and 1260 formulations were used to study the orthogonality of both column series. Retention times of the corresponding PCB congeners on ¹D and ²D columns were used to construct retention time dependences (apex plots) for assessing orthogonality of both columns coupled in series. For a visual assessment of the peak density of PCBs congeners on a retention plane, 2D images were compared. The degree of orthogonality of both column series was, along the visual assessment of distribution of PCBs on the retention plane, evaluated also by Pearson's correlation coefficient, which was found by correlation of retention times t_R,i,2D and t_R,i,1D of corresponding PCB congeners on both column series. It was demonstrated that the apolar + ionic liquid column series is almost orthogonal both for the 2D separation of PCBs present in Aroclor 1242 and 1260 formulations as well as for the separation of all of 209 PCBs. All toxic, dioxin-like PCBs, with the exception of PCB 118 that overlaps with PCB 106, were resolved by the apolar/ionic liquid series while on the apolar/polar column series three toxic PCBs overlapped (105 + 127, 81 + 148 and 118 + 106).     

Development of a quantification methodology for polychlorinated biphenyls by using Kanechlor products as the secondary reference standard

Kanechlor (KC)-300, 400, 500 and 600, Japanese polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) products, and their equivalent mixture were analyzed by using a gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with an SE-54 capillary column/electron capture detector (ECD) and a GC/mass spectrometer in the selected ion monitoring mode (MS-SIM). All peaks were assigned to the composing congeners based on the data on peak assignment of Clophen A-30, 40, 50, 60 and Aroclor 1016, 1242, 1254, 1260 [1] and on the relative retention time values of 209 PCB congeners [2]. The weight percentage of the congener(s) which corresponds to each peak in the mass chromatograms was calculated by comparison of its height with that of certified reference standard with the same molecular weight. Each weight percentage of PCB congener(s) corresponding to each ECD peak was obtained by summing up the percent contribution values of the PCB congeners co-eluting. The results showed that it was possible to use KC products and their equivalent mixture as secondary reference standards for congener-specific PCB quantification.     

Determination of sunitinib in human plasma using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

An original method based on liquid chromatography with single quadrupole electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was developed for the determination of sunitinib in human plasma. The quantitation limit of the method at 0.10 ng/mL is comparable to that of tandem mass spectrometry assays. The handling of all solutions containing sunitinib was performed under low‐intensity red light to avoid the isomerization of sunitinib and enable quantitation using a single peak. Liquid–liquid extraction with a mixture of n‐hexane/isopropanol (90:10 v/v) allowed recoveries at the level of 70%. Measurements were performed using a Zorbax SB‐C₁₈ column (3.0 mm × 150 mm, 3.5 μm) and isocratic elution with (A) 0.1% aqueous formic acid and (B) acetonitrile/methanol (80:20 v/v) in an A/B ratio of 55:45 at 35°C. Under these conditions, sunitinib is eluted at 3.8 min in 6 min of the total run time. The linearity of the calibration curve ranges from 0.10 to 150 ng/mL. The baseline separation of sunitinib and its primary metabolite, N‐des‐ethyl sunitinib (SU12662), as well as sharp peak shapes, suggest a possibility of extending the applied methodology to the quantitative determination of both compounds. Isotopically labeled sunitinib was used as the internal standard. All required validation tests met the acceptance criteria and proved the method's reliability and robustness. The method may be conveniently applied to study the pharmacokinetics of sunitinib in humans.     

Evaluation of fused-silica capillary columns for GC/ECD analysis of chlorinated hydrocarbons listed in EPA method 8120

Four mega-bore, one wide-bore, and one narrow-bore fused-silica capillary columns were evaluated for their applicability to the GC/ECD analysis of 22 chlorinated hydrocarbons, some of which are currently targeted by EPA Method 8120. No one column can resolve all 22 compounds investigated here. Four compounds (two pairs) are coeluting on the SPB-35, DB-210, DB-WAX, and DB-519 fused-silica capillary columns, five compounds (two groups) are coeluting on the DB-1301 fused-silica capillary column, and ten compounds (five pairs) are coeluting on the SPB-5 fused-silica capillary column. The analysis time varies between 30 and 50 min. The order of elution of the chlorinated benzenes seems to depend on their boiling points rather than on the polarity of the liquid phase. The retention times of an additional nine chlorinated toluenes, eight chlorinated xylenes, and five chlorinated naphthalenes are also reported. Electron capture detector linearity is reported for the DB-210 fused-silica capillary column. Five brominated compounds were investigated as possible internal standards for Method 8120.     

Fast GC analysis of major volatile compounds in distilled alcoholic beverages: Optimisation of injection and chromatographic conditions

The principal secondary flavour compounds in distilled spirits can be successfully quantified by split injection to a 0.15 mm internal diameter (I.D.) capillary column. Initial conditions for split ratio, gas velocity, initial oven temperature and oven ramp rate are given by method translation from a similar method on a standard 0.25 mm internal diameter column with the same phase. These parameters were then investigated in an experimental design comprising a series of experiments in which the responses were the resolution of two critical peak pairs, the analysis time and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the eight major compounds. The LOQ is the concentration corresponding to a signal 10 times greater than the noise. The experiments were replicated at two different concentration levels, which encompassed the natural levels of the compounds of interest found in distilled spirits. From the chemometric evaluation of these data, a validated model was constructed, which allowed the prediction of conditions for optimum chromatographic analysis. Three additional concentration levels were then added to the model to establish linearity, repeatability and sensitivity. Modern gas chromatographic hardware allows the use of these narrow-bore capillary columns for routine use without operational difficulties. Major advantages are a substantial decrease in analysis time allowing high throughput processing of samples.