Chromatographic Techniques in the Quality Control of Cognacs and Cognac Spirits

To improve the reliability and information content of the quality control of cognacs and cognac spirits and to detect the signs of adulterated products, quality tests and methods for the instrumental analysis of cognacs and brandies by gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and UV-VIS spectrophotometry are considered. A set of marker substances, the concentrations of and ratios between which allow one to detect various types of adulterations and violations in manufacturing processes, was determined and methodologically substantiated. The marker substances were tentatively subdivided into several groups: volatile components, which are characteristic of cognac and affect its organoleptic properties; oak-wood substances, which are accumulated in cognac spirit in the course of aging; flavoring components; denaturing agents; and other substances that are uncharacteristic of cognac. Particular kinds of cognac products were experimentally examined, and the most characteristic types of adulterations and technological violations in the manufacture of both domestically produced and imported cognac products were exemplified. Recommendations on the effective quality control of cognac products are given, and a high level of identification methods in use is noted.__________Translated from Zhurnal Analiticheskoi Khimii, Vol. 60, No. 8, 2005, pp. 848–868.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Savchuk, Kolesov.     

Comparison of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the analysis of tobacco essential oils

A sample of tobacco essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOFMS), respectively. In the GC/MS analysis, serially coupled columns were used. By comparing the GC/MS results with GC × GC/TOFMS results, many more components in the essential oil could be found within the two-dimensional separation space of GC × GC. The quantitative determination of components in the essential oil was performed by GC × GC with flame ionization detection (FID), using a method of multiple internal standards calibration.     

Investigating the coffee flavour in South African Pinotage wine using novel offline olfactometry and comprehensive gas chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry

Pinotage wine from several South African wine cellars has been produced with a novel coffee flavour. We have investigated this innovative coffee effect using in house developed solventless sampling and fractionating olfactometric techniques, which are unique in their ability to study synergistic aroma effects as opposed to traditional gas chromatography olfactometry (GC-O) which is designed to, ideally, evaluate single eluting compounds in a chromatographic sequence. Sections of the chromatogram, multiple or single peaks, were recaptured on multichannel open tubular silicone rubber (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) traps at the end of a GC column. The recaptured fractions were released in a controlled manner for offline olfactory evaluation, and for qualitative analysis using comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOFMS) for compound separation and identification, thus permitting correlation of odour with specific compounds. A combination of furfural and 2-furanmethanol was responsible for a roast coffee bean-like odour in coffee style Pinotage wines. This coffee perception is the result of a synergistic effect in which no individual compound was responsible for the characteristic aroma.     

Forensic discrimination of photocopy and printer toners. III. Multivariate statistics applied to scanning electron microscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Copy toner samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy with X-ray dispersive analysis (SEM–EDX) and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS). Principal component and cluster analysis of SEM data for 166 copy toner samples established 13 statistically different subgroups, with the presence or absence of a ferrite base being a major division. When toners were compared for which both SEM and reflection–absorption infrared spectral data were available, 41% of the samples could be assigned to specific manufacturers. Py–GC/MS on poly(styrene:acrylate)-based toners produced eight peaks relevant to toner differentiation. One third of the toners clustered in a small group that contained five statistically different subgroups. Of the 57 toners for which both Py–GC/MS and SEM data were available, 31 could be differentiated using the combined analytical results. The synergy of the complementary information provided by Py–GC/MS and SEM narrows matching possibilities for forensic investigations involving copied or laser printed documents.This is publication number 03-04 of the Laboratory Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Names of commercial manufacturers are provided for identification only, and inclusion does not imply endorsement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.     

Modulation in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography: 20 years of innovation

With almost 20 years having passed since John B. Phillips described the first comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) separation, much has occurred in this ever-expanding field of separation science. GC × GC is currently one of the most effective techniques for the separation and analysis of complex mixtures, offering significantly greater peak capacities than conventional chromatographic methods. The technique is generally based upon separations performed on two chromatographic columns characterized by considerably different selectivities, joined together through a modulating interface. The modulator periodically traps or samples the primary column effluent, usually refocuses it into a narrow chromatographic band and injects the focused fraction into the secondary column. The modulator is often referred to as the ‘heart’ of the instrument, since a GC × GC separation is impossible without its use. This article reviews major innovations in GC × GC modulator development since its first use by Phillips in 1991. Emphasis has been placed on modulator design and function.     

Degradation of Acetophenone in Water by Pulsed Corona Discharges

Degradation of acetophenone in dilute aqueous solution has been studied using pulsed corona discharges in water. Higher conversions of acetophenone were obtained with the addition of oxygen or ozone than with the addition of nitrogen and without the addition of any gas. Intermediates of acetophenone degradation, as determined by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopies (GC–MS), were phenethyl alcohol, toluene, and 2-acetylphenol. In addition, the degradation reaction pathways of acetophenone in water are discussed.     

Physicochemical Properties,Fatty Acid Composition,Volatile Compounds of Blueberries,Cranberries, Raspberries,and Cuckooflower Seeds Obtained Using Sonication Method

Every year, thousands of tons of fruit seeds are discarded as agro-industrial by-products around the world. Fruit seeds are an excellent source of oils, monounsaturated fatty acids, and n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. This study aimed to develop a novel technology for extracting active substances from selected seeds that were obtained after pressing fruit juices. The proposed technology involved sonification with the use of ethyl alcohol at a low extraction temperature. Seeds of four species—blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), and cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis)—were used for extraction. Following alcohol evaporation under nitrogen, the antioxidant activity, chemical composition, and volatile compounds of the obtained extracts were analyzed using chromatographic methods, including gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS) (GC–MS/MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography–MS. We analyzed physicochemical properties, fatty acid, and volatile compounds composition, sterol and tocochromanol content of blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, and cuckooflower seed oils obtained by sonication. This method is safe and effective, and allows for obtaining valuable oils from the seeds.     

Characterisation of organic compounds in aerosol particles from a Finnish forest by on-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction–liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

During the European Union project Quantification of Aerosol Nucleation in the European Boundary Layer (QUEST), which began in spring 2003, atmospheric aerosol particles were collected in a Finnish Scots pine forest using a high-volume sampler. The organic compounds in the filter samples were then analysed by on-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction–liquid chromatography–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SFE–LC–GC–MS). The sample was first extracted by SFE. During LC the extracts were fractionated into three fractions according to polarity. The final separation was carried out by GC–MS. A fraction volume as high as 840 L was transferred to the GC, using the partial concurrent eluent evaporation technique. The same instrumentation, with an in-situ SFE derivatisation method, was used to analyse organic acids. Major compounds such as n-alkanes and PAH were analysed quantitatively. Their concentrations were lower than those usually observed in urban areas or in other forest areas in Europe. The wind direction was one of the most important factors affecting changes in the daily concentrations of these compounds. Scots pine needles were analysed with the same system to obtain reference data for identification of biogenic compounds in aerosol particles. Other organic compounds found in this study included hopanes, steranes, n-alkanals, n-alkan-2-ones, oxy-PAH, and alkyl-PAH; some biogenic products, including oxidation products of monoterpenes, were also identified.     

Modification and re-validation of the ethyl acetate-based multi-residue method for pesticides in produce

The ethyl acetate-based multi-residue method for determination of pesticide residues in produce has been modified for gas chromatographic (GC) analysis by implementation of dispersive solid-phase extraction (using primary–secondary amine and graphitized carbon black) and large-volume (20 μL) injection. The same extract, before clean-up and after a change of solvent, was also analyzed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS–MS). All aspects related to sample preparation were re-assessed with regard to ease and speed of the analysis. The principle of the extraction procedure (solvent, salt) was not changed, to avoid the possibility invalidating data acquired over past decades. The modifications were made with techniques currently commonly applied in routine laboratories, GC–MS and LC–MS–MS, in mind. The modified method enables processing (from homogenization until final extracts for both GC and LC) of 30 samples per eight hours per person. Limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ were achieved with both GC–MS (full-scan acquisition, 10 mg matrix equivalent injected) and LC–MS–MS (2 mg injected) for most of the pesticides. Validation data for 341 pesticides and degradation products are presented. A compilation of analytical quality-control data for pesticides routinely analyzed by GC–MS (135 compounds) and LC–MS–MS (136 compounds) in over 100 different matrices, obtained over a period of 15 months, are also presented and discussed. At the 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ level acceptable recoveries were obtained for 93% (GC–MS) and 92% (LC–MS–MS) of pesticide–matrix combinations.     

Evaluation of headspace solid-phase microextraction for the analysis of volatile carbonyl compounds in spirits and alcoholic beverages

A method was developed for the determination of C1-C6 carbonyl compounds in alcoholic solutions using pentafluorobenzoxymation followed by headspace sampling solid-phase microextraction and subsequent analysis by GC with electron-capture detection. Experimental conditions-alcohol content, exposure time, temperature and sample agitation were optimised. In this method, a spirit or distilled alcoholic beverage is first adjusted to 20% (v/v) alcohol. Detection limits for particular aldehydes and ketone varied from 0.05 to 0.5 microg/l and relative standard deviation was between 2.3 and 20%. Generally, the method showed good linearity for the tested concentration range 8 microg/l-0.32 mg/l with regression coefficients ranging between 0.9434 and 0.9983. The method was applied to the analysis of real alcoholic beverages (vodkas).     

Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy optimization by computer simulation,application to the analysis of 93 volatile organic compounds in workplace ambient air

GC–MS optimization method including both advantages from chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection was designed for a set of 93 volatile organic compounds. Only a few experiments were necessary to determine the thermodynamic retention parameters for all compounds on a RTX-VMS column. From these data, computer simulation was used in order to predict the retention times of the compounds in temperature programmed gas chromatography. Then, an automatic selection of ions from the NIST database was performed and compared to the optimum conditions (full separation of VOC). This simulation-selection procedure was used to screen a numerous set of GC and MS conditions in order to quickly design a GC–MS method whatever the set of compounds considered.     

Analysis of special surfactants by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Multidimensional gas-chromatographic analyses of olesochemically based nonionic, anionic and several cationic surfactants in industrial cleaners are demonstrated. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry allows the simultaneous determination of fatty alcohols, fatty alcohol sulphates and alkyl polyglucosides. In addition, the determination of fatty alcohol ethoxylates up to C₁₀EO₈ (highest degree of ethoxylation) and C₁₈EO₅ (longest C-chain at an ethoxylation degree of five) and the analysis of fatty alcohol alkoxylates that contain ethoxy (EO) and propoxy (PO) groups could be realized. Because of decomposition in the injector and a weak EI-fragmentation, cationic surfactants such as alkyl benzyl dimethyl ammonium chloride could also be identified by their characteristic fragments. Thermogravimetric analyses confirmed that the temperature in a normal GC injector is not high enough to cause thermal decomposition of esterquats. However, we could demonstrate that a modified silylation procedure forms decomposition products of esterquats in the GC injector which are detectable by GC × GC–(TOF)MS and allows the identification of such GC-atypical analytes.     

Electrochemical oxidation of C4-vanillin- and C4-isovanillin-1,4-dihydropyridines in aprotic medium: Reactivity towards free radicals

This work reports the electrochemical oxidation of two new synthetic C4-vanillin and -isovanillin-1,4-dihydropyridines in aprotic medium. Its reactivity with alkylperoxyl radicals ABAP-derived at pH 7.4 is also studied. Voltammetry, coulometry, controlled-potential electrolysis, UV–visible spectroscopy and GC–MS techniques were employed to collect data that permitted us to study its oxidation. Effect of TBA-OH addition on the oxidation was electrochemically and spectroscopically followed. In aprotic medium, the oxidation mechanism involves the formation of the pyridine derivative, which was generated by controlled-potential electrolysis (CPE) at 1270 mV and identified by GC–MS technique as the final product of the electrolysis. Spectroelectrochemical experiments also support the formation of the pyridine derivative from the oxidation of both 1,4-dihydropyridines. Direct reactivity of synthesized compounds towards alkylperoxyl radicals ABAP-derived was determined. Results reveal that the inclusion of vanillin radical or its positional isomer, isovanillin in the 4-position of the dihydropyridine ring produced a significant positive effect on the reactivity towards alkylperoxyl radicals, even compared with commercial dihydropyridine drugs with a well-known antioxidant ability. Scavenging mechanism involves the electron-transfer and the formation of a pyridine derivative, which was identified by GC–MS.     

Unveiling Chemical Cues of Insect-Tree and Insect-Insect Interactions for the Eucalyptus Weevil and Its Egg Parasitoid by Multidimensional Gas Chromatographic Methods

Multidimensional gas chromatography is, presently, an established and powerful analytical tool, due to higher resolving power than the classical 1D chromatographic approaches. Applied to multiple areas, it allows to isolate, detect and identify a larger number of compounds present in complex matrices, even in trace amounts. Research was conducted to determine which compounds, emitted by host plants of the eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus platensis, might mediate host selection behavior. The identification of a pheromone blend of G. platensis is presented, revealing to be more attractive to weevils of both sexes, than the individual compounds. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were collected by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), MonoTrap^TM disks, and simultaneous distillation-extraction (SDE). Combining one dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) chromatographic systems—comprehensive and heart-cut two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC and H/C-MD-GC, respectively) with mass spectrometry (MS) and electroantennographic (EAD) detection, enabled the selection and identification of pertinent semiochemicals which were detected by the insect antennal olfactory system. The behavioral effect of a selected blend of compounds was assessed in a two-arm olfactometer with ten parallel walking chambers, coupled to video tracking and data analysis software. An active blend, composed by cis and trans-verbenol, verbenene, myrtenol and trans-pinocarveol was achieved.     

Analysis of coal tar and petroleum pitches by computerized pattern recognition

Pyrolysis gas chromatography (P/GC) has been successful in differentiating coal tar pitches which are used in the manufacture of high temperature graphite materials [1,2]. In the present study, coal tar and petroleum pitches received from five suppliers were readily differentiated using three distinct methods of polymer analysis: dynamic headspace and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (DH/GC/MS and P/GC/MS, [3]), and pyrolysis mass spectrometry (P/MS, [4,5]). All of these methods are appropriate for the analysis and pattern recognition study of coal and petroleum products; however, methods which incorporate GC usually necessitate long analysis times and are subject to problems associated with gas chromatographic reproducibility (e.g. active sites [6], and nonconstant retention times). As a fingerprint analysis method, P/MS is rapid and ideally suited to computerized pattern recognition study of pitches due to the simple format of P/MS data (computer tabulation of normalized intensities versus masses); whereas, in the present study, the normalized peak area versus retention time date from DH/GC/MS and P/GC/MS analyses were not suitable for direct input to a computerized pattern recognition analysis program, (due to non-constant retention times and improper data format). One limitation is that P/MS does not provide positive identification of thermally evolved products (as can DH/GC/MS and P/GC/MS) due to the complexity of the spectra of a mixture of compounds produced by P/MS. Within the limits of the commercial instrumentation and computer programs used in this study, a combination of all three techniques provided the greatest capability for the differentiation of the five coal tar and petroleum based pitches studied.     

Automated determination of ethyl carbamate in stone-fruit spirits using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A fully automated procedure using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (GC/MS/MS) detection was developed for the determination of the toxic contaminant ethyl carbamate (EC) in stone-fruit spirits. After addition of deuterated internal standard, the optimised HS-SPME extraction with carbowax/divinylbenzene fibres (30 min at 70 degrees C) was done applying salting out with sodium chloride in the presence of pH 7 buffer solution. For quantitative analysis the characteristic fragmentations of m/z 74>44 and m/z 62>44 for ethyl carbamate as well as m/z 64>44 for ethyl carbamate-d5 were monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using a triple quadrupole instrument. In the validation studies, ethyl carbamate exhibited good linearity with a regression coefficient of 0.998. The limits of detection and quantitation were 0.03 and 0.11 mg/l. The precision never exceeded 4.3% (intraday) and 8.2% (interday) at any of the concentrations examined. A good agreement of analysis results in comparison to conventional sample clean-up over diatomaceous earth columns was found (R = 0.956, Bias = 0.08 mg/l). The new HS-SPME/GC/MS/MS procedure is suitable for the fast, reliable and inexpensive determination of ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages in an automated, and therefore, convenient procedure.     

Novel approaches to the analysis of steroid estrogens in river sediments

A wide range of estrogenic contaminants has been detected in the aquatic environment. Among these, natural and synthetic steroid estrogens, typically present in municipal sewage-treatment plant (STP) effluents, are the most potent. In this study a new GC–MS method has been developed for direct analysis of five major steroid estrogens (estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, dienestrol, and diethylstilbestrol) in river sediments. Four GC–MS systems used for analysis of underivatized analytes in purified extracts were compared. Relatively low detection limits (1.5–5 ng g⁻¹ dried sediment) and good repeatability of GC splitless injection (RSD 1–2%) were achieved by use of a system combining low-pressure gas chromatography with a single-quadrupole mass analyzer (LP-GC–MS). Use of orthogonal gas chromatography (GC×GC) hyphenated with high-speed time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HSTOF-MS) enabled not only significantly better resolution of target analytes, and their unequivocal identification, but also further improvement (decrease) of their detection limits. In addition to these outcomes, use of this unique GC×GC–TOF-MS system enabled identification of several other non-target chemicals, including pharmaceutical steroids, present in purified sediment extracts.     

High-throughput approach for analysis of multicomponent gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric signals

Hyphenated techniques such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) or high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) produce a large amount of data in a form of two-way data matrix. It has been a great challenge to furthest extract the useful information from the data. In this work, a chemometric approach based on a modification of adaptive immune algorithm (AIA) was proposed for a high-throughput analysis of the multicomponent overlapping GC–MS signals. With the proposed method, the chromatographic profile of each component in an overlapping signal can be extracted independently and sequentially along the retention time. In order to show the efficiency of the method, a stimulated GC–MS data of six components with background and an experimental GC–MS data of 40 pesticides were investigated. It was found that the multicomponent overlapping GC–MS signals could be fast and accurately resolved. Furthermore, the quantitative property of the extracted information was also investigated. The correlation coefficients (r) between the peak area and the added volumes of the sample are in the range 0.9658–0.9953.     

Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples

Microplastics (MPs) have gained significant attention in the last two decades and have been widely researched in the marine environment. There are, however, less studies on their presence, routes of entry, and impacts on the biota in the soil environment. One of the main issues in the study of MPs is a lack of standardized methods for their identification in environmental samples. Currently the most commonly used techniques are thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) methods and pyrolysis followed by GC–MS. In this study, headspace-solid phase microextraction followed by GC–MS is proposed as a simple and widely applicable method for the determination of commonly present polymer MPs (polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene) in environmental samples, for analytical laboratories with basic equipment worldwide. The proposed method is based on the identification of compounds, which are formed during the well-controlled melting process of specific coarse (1–5 mm) and fine fraction (1 mm–100 μm) MPs. The method was upgraded for the identification of individual polymer type in blends and in complex environmental matrices (soil and algae biomass). The successful application of the method in complex matrices makes it especially suitable for widescale use.     

Isolation of free phenolic compounds from arboreal leaves by use of the Florisil/C<Subscript>18</Subscript> system

In studies of the phenolic compounds present in leaves and needles, GC and GC–MS have so far been applied only sporadically. This is probably because of the greater difficulties encountered in preparing the samples for this method than those used for liquid chromatography. When preparing a sample for gas chromatography the analyst is faced with two difficult stages—separation of the compound from the matrix without losses (stage 1) so that the final sample can be derivatized to make it suitable for analysis on a non-polar capillary column of the gas chromatograph (stage 2). This paper presents a procedure for extraction of phenolic compounds from the matrix by means of a Florisil/C₁₈ sorbent system and their analysis by GC. After passage through the adsorbents the recovery ranges from 32% for ferulic acid to 88% for gentisic acid. It was found that this extraction method and the GC analysis are very precise (particularly for samples of a mass <1 g) and can be used for quantification. The high-precision quantification of 15 phenolic acids, shikimic acid, and six other compounds present in pine needles has been achieved. The conditions used for GC analysis and construction of calibration curves for quantitative determination are given.