Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography— A discussion on recent innovations

Although comprehensive 2-D GC is an established and often applied analytical method, the field is still highly dynamic thanks to a remarkable number of innovations. In this review, we discuss a number of recent developments in comprehensive 2-D GC technology. A variety of modulation methods are still being actively investigated and many exciting improvements are discussed in this review. We also review interesting developments in detection methods, retention modeling, and data analysis.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography for fingerprint pattern recognition in cachaça production

Cacha?a samples were studied by means of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC/TOFMS) during the fermentation process and after ageing in different wood materials. The analyses of the aroma compounds were performed after headspace-solid phase microextraction method (HS-SPME) using an 85microm polyacrylate (PA) fibre. Fingerprint monitoring of the distillation process allowed the easy determination of the turning points of the process and high-resolution comparison of cabe?a (head), cora??o (core) and cauda (tail) fractions. The ageing process in different wood materials was well characterised through fingerprint similarity observations; in the absence of a suitable metric for expressing the overall similarity, here we use a visual and retention time comparison to identify co-incident peaks and those that differ between samples. For quality control purposes, a simple observation of the contour plots obtained can thus allow the identification of the type of wood used in the ageing process, and the process of ageing, without further statistical treatment or peak identifications. In this manner, peaks, which discriminated most between the different mixtures studied were readily found, i.e. unique compounds were identified in each stage of the distillation process. Approximate first dimension linear retention indices (LRI) for these identified compounds were calculated in a bi-dimensional polar/non-polar column set in the GCxGC experiment and were used in conjunction with mass spectral library searching for tentative identification. Along the progression of the distillation process, 70 compounds appear to visually discriminate between samples and their retention indices are indicated, presenting good correlation with literature data.     

Organotin analysis by gas chromatography–pulsed flame-photometric detection (GC–PFPD)

Monobutyltin (MBuT), dibutyltin (DBuT), and tributyltin (TBuT) mixtures have been separated and quantified by gas chromatography with pulsed flame-photometric detection (GC–PFPD). The compounds were first derivatized with NaBEt₄, then extracted with hexane and injected into the GC in splitless mode. Optimum GC and detector conditions were established. For GC, various injector temperatures and oven temperature programs were tested. For the PFPD detector, gate settings (gate delay and gate width) and detector temperature were optimized. A very good linearity was obtained up to 100–150 ppb for all organotin compounds. The detection limits obtained were: MBuT (0.7 ppb), DBuT (0.8 ppb), and TBuT (0.6 ppb). RSD for repeatability and reproducibility were well below 20% when the instrument was in routine operation. A biological sample (CRM 477) was also analyzed for organotins. Extraction from the biological matrix was performed with TMAH. Besides the increased risk of contamination, the derivatization step seemed to be critical. pH and amount of derivatizing agent were tested. When using an internal standard (TPrT) between 90% and 110% of the certified amounts of organotin were recovered.     

Sampling of benzene in environmental and exhaled air by solid-phase microextraction and analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Benzene is classified as a Group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The risk assessment for benzene can be performed by monitoring environmental and occupational air, as well as biological monitoring through biomarkers. The present work developed and validated methods for benzene analysis by GC/MS using SPME as the sampling technique for ambient air and breath. The results of the analysis of air in parks and avenues demonstrated a significant difference, with average values of 4.05 and 18.26 μg m⁻³, respectively, for benzene. Sampling of air in the occupational environment furnished an average of 3.41 and 39.81 μg m⁻³. Moreover, the correlations between ambient air and expired air showed a significant tendency to linearity (R ² = 0.850 and R ² = 0.879). The results obtained for two groups of employees (31.91 and 72.62 μg m⁻³) presented the same trend as that from the analysis of environmental air.     

Comprehensive multidimensional separation methods by hyphenation of single-photon ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SPI-TOF-MS) with GC and GC×GC

One- and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography were hyphenated with soft photoionization mass spectrometry. The characteristics of these two- and three-dimensional comprehensive separation techniques are discussed in detail. Using the innovative electron beam pumped excimer light source (EBEL) for single-photon ionization (SPI), organic molecules with ionization energies (E _i ) of below 9.8 eV can be detected by a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS). SPI with 126 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photons enables the universal and soft ionization of organic molecules. SPI-TOF-MS hyphenated to one-dimensional gas chromatography results in a comprehensive two-dimensional separation method (GC×MS). To demonstrate this, diesel fuel was analyzed, and the resulting GC×MS chromatograms are discussed in depth. A three-dimensional separation method was also realized by combining comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) with SPI-MS. In the resulting separation space, constituents originating from mineral oil diesel blended with biodiesel were dispersed along the two GC separation axes, while the molecular mass axis served as a third separation dimension.     

Comprehensive profiling of Sanguisorba officinalis using offline two-dimensional mixed-mode liquid chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography,tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry,and molecular network

The profiling of natural products is important in modern biological sciences and new drug development. However, the separation and characterization of complex herbal extracts are significantly challenging for researchers in the biochemical field. Herein, an offline two-dimensional mixed-mode liquid chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography system is developed. Our system exhibits high orthogonality and is composed of a newly prepared stationary phase in the first dimension and a traditional C₁₈ phase in the second dimension, and is operated in combination with a high-resolution mass spectrometry and molecular network. Sanguisorba officinalis L. is studied using the proposed method owing to its bioactivity. With the aid of orthogonal separation, the ionization of the individual components is improved. The number of detected compounds and separated peaks are significantly increased when one-dimensional liquid chromatography is upgraded to two-dimensional liquid chromatography. In addition, 270 compounds (127 of which are tentatively characterized as new compounds, and further confirmation is needed) are successfully characterized based on their fragmentation patterns under the guidance of molecular network, while only 95 compounds are characterized using one-dimensional liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the developed offline two-dimensional mixed-mode liquid chromatography × reversed-phase liquid chromatography, tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry, and molecular network method are effective for profiling complex samples.     

Separation of 18α(H)-, 18β(H)-oleanane and lupane by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

18α(H)-, 18β(H)-oleanane and lupane are angiosperm-derived biomarkers that are used as age indicators for the Late Cretaceous onwards when the first proliferation of angiosperms occurred. In addition, the 18α(H)-/18β(H)-oleanane ratio is employed as a thermal maturity parameter of crude oil. However, evidence has shown that accurate quantification of these compounds has been impeded by inadequate chromatographic separation by traditional one-dimensional gas chromatography. In this study, we present the separation of 18α(H)-, 18β(H)-oleanane and lupane with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). Furthermore, it was observed that 18β(H)-oleanane elutes earlier than 18α(H)-oleanane in second dimension (polarity) which we attribute to steric hindrance effects. Two GC conditions have been developed in order to achieve baseline separation of the triterpenoids of interest in complex mixtures such as sediment extracts and crude oils.     

Development and validation of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the analysis of phytosterol oxidation products in human plasma

Phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) have been suggested to exert adverse biological effects similar to, although less severe than, their cholesterol counterparts. For that reason, their analysis in human plasma is highly relevant. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) has been proven to be an extremely powerful separation technique for the analysis of very low levels of target compounds in complex mixtures including human plasma. Thus, a GC×GC/TOF-MS method was developed and successfully validated for the simultaneous quantification of ten POPs in human plasma. The calibration curves for each compound showed correlation coefficients (R ²) better than 0.99. The detection limits were below 0.1 ng mL⁻¹. The recovery data were between 71.0% and 98.6% (RSDs <10% for all compounds validated). Good results were obtained for within- and between-day repeatability, with most values being below 10%. In addition, non-targeted sterol metabolites were also identified with the method. The concentrations of POPs found in human plasma in the current study are between 0.3 and 4.5 ng mL⁻¹, i.e., 10–100 times lower than the typical values found for cholesterol oxidation products.     

Comprehensive reversed-phase×chiral two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry with post-first dimension flow splitting for untargeted enantioselective amino acid analysis

This work describes a comprehensive achiral × chiral two-dimensional liquid chromatography separation for enantioselective amino acid analysis coupled to electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry detection using data-independent acquisition. Flow splitting after the first and second dimension separation was utilized for volumetric flow reduction and for enabling a multi-detector approach (with ultraviolet, fluorescence, charged aerosol, and MS detection), respectively. Derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate provided a chromophore, a fluorophore, and an efficient mass tag for efficient ionization in positive electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Chiral columns often have limitations in terms of their chemoselectivity, which may be a problem when complex sample mixtures with structurally related compounds need to be separated. It can be alleviated by a reversed-phase×chiral two-dimensional-liquid chromatography setup, in which the first dimension provides the chemoselectivity and a chiral tandem column constituted of quinine-carbamate derived weak anion-exchanger and zwitterionic ion-exchanger in the second dimension separation of D- and L-amino acid enantiomers. The method was used to control the stereointegrity of the therapeutic peptide octreotide. After hydrolysis, all amino acid constituents were detected with the correct configuration and composition. Some options for flow splitting and integration of destructive detectors in the first dimension separation are outlined.     

Analysis of 28 insecticides in curry leaves (Murraya koenigii L.) by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A simple and efficient method was developed for analysis of 28 insecticides (organochlorines, organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids) in curry leaves (Murraya koenigii L.). The extraction of the analytes was carried out with acidified acetonitrile and purification with magnesium sulphate, primary secondary amine along with graphitised carbon black to remove excess chlorophyll content in curry leaves. Acetonitrile extracts were changed into hexane + acetone (9 + 1) and hexane + toluene (9 + 1) in the final step. In another method ethyl acetate was used for extraction and purification was carried out as above. The analytes in the samples were determined by gas chromatography (GC) and confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Use of ethyl acetate increased the recovery of the analytes, but co-extractive interference led to higher GC maintenance. Acidified acetonitrile was found to be a better extraction solvent compared with ethyl acetate. The use of hexane:toluene (9:1) as exchange solvent increased the recovery of organochlorine insecticides compared with hexane:acetone (9:1). The limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method was 0.01 mg kg^?1 for organochlorine insecticides and 0.05 mg kg^?1 for organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids. The recoveries of organochlorines were within 70.36–82.45%; organophosphates, 82.54–90.93% and synthetic pyrethroids, 88.45–90.71% at the LOQ level. The method developed was found suitable for analysis of real samples of curry leaves. The pesticides detected in curry leaves collected from the retail market were mainly organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids.     

Determination of elaidic and vaccenic acids in foods using GC×GC-FID and GC×GC-TOFMS

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are present in meat and dairy products as m ruminant animals and in vegetable fats due to partial hydrogenation. This study aimed to discriminate between natural (N-TFA) and hydrogenated trans fatty (H-TFA) acids by GC × GC-flame ionization detection (GC × GC-FID) and comprehensive GC × GC-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS). The separation of two kinds of trans fats, vaccenic acid (18:1 trans-11) and elaidic acid (18:1 trans-9), was performed using GC × GC-FID and GC × GC-TOFMS. A 100 m × 0.25 mm I.D. × 0.2 μm (film thickness) SP-2560 (bis-cyanopropyl polysiloxane) fused capillary column (first separation dimension, 1D) was coupled to a 1.5 m × 0.18 mm I.D. × 0.18 μm (film thickness) RTX-5 (5% diphenyl/95% dimethyl polysiloxane) fused capillary column (second separation dimension, 2D). The RSD of the intra-day repeatability by both GC × GC-FID and GC × GC-TOFMS for elaidic and vaccenic acids was ≤9.56% and ≤9.97%, and the RSD of the inter-day repeatability was ≤8.49 and ≤9.06%, respectively. It was found that the V/E value (vaccenic acid to elaidic acid ratio) could be used to distinguish H-TFA from N-TFA and to evaluate the quality of the fatty foods.     

Dimethyl disulphide residue analysis and degradation kinetics determination in soil using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) is a volatile sulphur compound and is used as a new type of soil fumigant. The objective of this study was to develop an effective method to extract and analyse DMDS residue in soil, then determine the degradation kinetics of DMDS in soil using the above method. The results showed that DMDS extraction from soil by ethyl acetate under static conditions for 60 min gave the best recovery. The extracted DMDS was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the limit of quantification of DMDS in the soil was 5 μg/kg. The average recoveries of the DMDS at five different concentrations were in the range of 65.4–120.1% with all intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation less than 19.1 and 14.8, respectively. The degradation rates of DMDS in different soils were significantly different and were strongly influenced by the soil pH. The results in the present study will be useful for DMDS environmental behaviour study in future.     

The use of liquid scintillation analysis in the monitoring of α emitting and transuranium nuclides in environmental samples

With pulse decay discrimination function and using diisopropylnaphthalene based scintilation cocktail, liquid scintillation analysis (LSA) becomes a rapid and reliable method for monitoring emitting nuclides in environmental samples. Recent developments of instrumentation and cocktail of LSA are described. Procedures and results of monitoring gross activity in vegetable samples and plutonium in soil samples are given. The Minimum Detectable Activity was 4.5×10^–2 Bq/Kg for vegetable samples and was 6.6×10^–5 Bq/g for soil samples.     

Stir-bar-sorptive extraction and liquid desorption combined with large-volume injection gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for ultra-trace analysis of musk compounds in environmental water matrices

Stir-bar-sorptive extraction with liquid desorption followed by large-volume injection and capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring acquisition mode (SBSE–LD/LVI-GC–MS(SIM)) has been developed to monitor ultra-traces of four musks (celestolide (ADBI), galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN) and musk ketone (MK)) in environmental water matrices. Instrumental calibration (LVI-GC–MS(SIM)) and experimental conditions that could affect the SBSE-LD efficiency are discussed. Assays performed on 30-mL water samples spiked at 200 ng L^?1 under optimized experimental conditions yielded recoveries ranging from 83.7?±?8.1% (MK) to 107.6?±?10.8% (HHCB). Furthermore, the experimental data were in very good agreement with predicted theoretical equilibria described by octanol–water partition coefficients (K _PDMS/W?≈?K _O/W). The methodology also showed excellent linear dynamic ranges for the four musks studied, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.9961, limits of detection and quantification between 12 and 19 ng L^?1 and between 41 and 62 ng L^?1, respectively, and suitable precision (< 20%). Application of this method for analysis of the musks in real water matrices such as tap, river, sea, and urban wastewater samples resulted in convenient selectivity, high sensitivity and accuracy using the standard addition methodology. The proposed method (SBSE–LD/LVI-GC–MS(SIM)) was shown to be feasible and sensitive, with a low-sample volume requirement, for determination of musk compounds in environmental water matrices at the ultra-trace level, overcoming several disadvantages presented by other sample-preparation techniques.     

Fate of tris(2-chloroethyl)amine in water and alkaline environment determined by thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Tris(2-chloroethyl)amine is a chemical warfare agent which is considered to be a persistent contaminant highly resistant to decontamination. The time dependence of tris(2-chloroethyl)amine degradation on the water pH value is observed to determine decontamination options using the decontamination of hydroxide-based mixtures which are used by a number of armed forces. The kinetics was observed using thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography. The time development of tris(2-chloroethyl)amine concentration decrease in the environment with the pH ranging from 7.5 to 12.5 was recorded. The reaction rate constants were established at all observed pH values, half-lifes of reactions and the influence of temperature on the reaction rate at a slightly alkaline pH of 8.5. The equation to estimate the rate constant of the first step of tris(2-chloroethyl)amine hydrolysis at various temperatures was formed. The rate of triethanolamine formation in the samples of neutral to alkaline pH was recorded. The results indicate the substantial influence of pH on tris(2-chloroethyl)amine hydrolysis. The rate constant was significantly increased from a neutral environment to the pH of 12.5 reaching 500% of the original value using alkalisation. The hydrolysis in a neutral environment was also influenced by the analyte concentration. The concentrated solutions hydrolysed more slowly as a result of hydrochloric acid release as the acid lowered the pH value of the environment. The results demonstrate that there is an important kinetic difference between sulphur and nitrogen mustard hydrolysis in an alkaline environment.

     

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography — practical impacts of theoretical considerations. A review

A theory of comprehensive two-dimensional separations by liquid chromatographic techniques is overviewed. It includes heart-cutting and comprehensive two-dimensional separation modes, with attention to basic concepts of two-dimensional separations: resolution, peak capacity, efficiency, orthogonality and selectivity. Particular attention is paid to the effects of sample structure on the retention and advantages of a multi-dimensional HPLC for separation of complex samples according to structural correlations. Optimization of 2D separation systems, including correct selection of columns, flow-rate, fraction volumes and mobile phase, is discussed. Benefits of simultaneous programmed elution in both dimensions of LCxLC comprehensive separations are shown.