Analysis of bacterial fatty acids by flow modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with parallel flame ionization detector/mass spectrometry

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) offers an interesting tool for profiling bacterial fatty acids. Flow modulated GC × GC using a commercially available system was evaluated, different parameters such as column flows and modulation time were optimized. The method was tested on bacterial fatty acid methyl esters (BAMEs) from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia LMG 958^T by using parallel flame ionization detector (FID)/mass spectrometry (MS). The results are compared to data obtained using a thermal modulated GC × GC system. The data show that flow modulated GC × GC-FID/MS method can be applied in a routine environment and offers interesting perspectives for chemotaxonomy of bacteria.     

Novel oxidation reaction of prochlorperazine with bromate in the presence of synergistic activators and its application to trace determination by flow injection/spectrophotometric method

Valve-based comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) is one of the most compact, robust, and inexpensive GC × GC instrument designs. The major drawback of a valve-based modulation configuration lies in diminished detection sensitivity. This loss in sensitivity is because under typical operating conditions the fraction of the first column (i.e., column 1) effluent transferred to the second column (i.e., column 2) is likely to be ∼5-10%. To address this loss in sensitivity, we report the development of a unique total-transfer (i.e., 100%) valve-based GC × GC, without adding complexity to the instrumentation. The new instrument design relies upon simply blocking one of the appropriate ports of the high-speed six-port diaphragm valve that is used as the modulator between columns 1 and 2. The modulation period and difference in head pressure between columns 1 and 2 are found to be the two primary variables that are controlled to provide good detection sensitivity and 100% mass transfer from column 1 to column 2. The detection sensitivity is better with a longer the modulation period. A limit of detection of 0.03 ng/μl was obtained for octane. This sensitive GC × GC configuration is also shown to provide acceptable separation peak capacity, with good separations achieved for real complex samples: gasoline and Eucalyptus oil, where compounds were spread out over much of the two-dimensional separation space. In principle, this total-transfer, valve-based GC × GC is more portable and less expensive than currently available GC × GC instrumentation.     

Supercritical fluid chromatography hyphenated with twin comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography for ultimate analysis of middle distillates

This paper reports the conditions of online hyphenation of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with twin comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (twin-GC × GC) for detailed characterization of middle distillates; this is essential for a better understanding of reactions involved in refining processes. In this configuration, saturated and unsaturated compounds that have been fractionated by SFC are transferred on two different GC × GC columns sets (twin-GC × GC) placed in the same GC oven. Cryogenic focusing is used for transfer of fractions into the first dimension columns before simultaneous GC × GC analysis of both saturated and unsaturated fractions. The benefits of SFC–twin-GC × GC are demonstrated for the extended alkane, iso-alkane, alkene, naphthenes and aromatics analysis (so-called PIONA analysis) of diesel samples which can be achieved in one single injection. For that purpose, saturated and unsaturated compounds have been separated by SFC using a silver loaded silica column prior to GC × GC analysis. Alkenes and naphthenes are quantitatively recovered in the unsaturated and saturated fractions, respectively, allowing their identification in various diesel samples. Thus, resolution between each class of compounds is significantly improved compared to a single GC × GC run, and for the first time, an extended PIONA analysis of diesel samples is presented.     

Profiling analysis of volatile compounds from fruits using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography and image processing techniques

An image processing approach originating from the proteomics field has been transferred successfully to the processing of data obtained with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic separations data. The approach described here has proven to be a useful analytical tool for unbiased pattern comparison or profiling analyses, as demonstrated with the differentiation of volatile patterns (“aroma”) from fruits such as apples, pears, and quince fruit. These volatile patterns were generated by headspace solid phase microextraction coupled to comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (HS-SPME-GC × GC). The data obtained from GC × GC chromatograms were used as contour plots which were then converted to gray-scale images and analyzed utilizing a workflow derived from 2D gel-based proteomics. Run-to-run variations between GC × GC chromatograms, respectively their contour plots, have been compensated by image warping. The GC × GC images were then merged into a fusion image yielding a defined and project-wide spot (peak) consensus pattern. Within detected spot boundaries of this consensus pattern, relative quantities of the volatiles from each GC × GC image have been calculated, resulting in more than 700 gap free volatile profiles over all samples. These profiles have been used for multivariate statistical analysis and allowed clustering of comparable sample origins and prediction of unknown samples. At present state of development, the advantage of using mass spectrometric detection can only be realized by data processing off-line from the identified software packages. However, such information provides a substantial basis for identification of statistically relevant compounds or for a targeted analysis.     

Factors affecting peak shape in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with non-focusing modulation

In the case of a non-focusing modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), the systematic distortions introduced when the modulator loads the second-dimension column give rise to a characteristic peak shape. Depending on the operating conditions this systematic distortion can be the dominant component of the second-dimension elution profiles in the GC × GC peak. The present investigation involved a systematic investigation of peak shape in pulsed-flow modulation (PFM)–GC × GC. It is shown that low flow ratio can lead to significant peak skewing and increasing the flow ratio reduces the magnitude of peak skewing. Validation of the peak shape model is made by comparison with experimental data. The residuals from the fitting process (normalised to the maximum detector response) vary between –1.5% and +2.6% for an isothermal model and between –1.0% and +3.0% for a temperature-programmed model.     

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.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the determination of volatile compounds from marine salt

In this work, a methodology to characterise the volatile and semi-volatile compounds from marine salt by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOFMS) was developed. Samples from two saltpans of Aveiro, in Portugal, with diverse locations, obtained over three years (2004, 2005, and 2007) were analysed. A 50/30 μm divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane SPME fibre was used. The volatiles present in the headspace of the solid salt samples (crystals) were equilibrated overnight at 60 °C and extracted for 60 min prior to injection in the GC × GC/TOFMS. 157 compounds, distributed over the chemical groups of hydrocarbons, aldehydes, esters, furans, haloalkanes, ketones, ethers, alcohols, terpenoids, C₁₃ norisoprenoids, and lactones were detected across the samples. Furans, haloalkanes and ethers were identified for the first time in marine salt. The large number of co-elutions on the first column that were resolved by the GC × GC system revealed the complexity of marine salt volatile composition. The existence of a structured 2D chromatographic behaviour according to volatility, in the first dimension (¹D), and primarily polarity, in the second dimension (²D), was demonstrated, allowing more reliable identifications. The resolution and sensitivity of GC × GC/TOFMS enabled the separation and identification of a higher number of volatile compounds compared to GC–qMS, allowing a deeper characterisation of this natural product.     

Measurement of retention in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography using flow modulation with methane dopant

Flow modulation of methane-doped carrier gas is used to visualize the second dimension hold-up time in GC × GC continuously throughout the run. This provides an internal reference of hold-up time and presents a straightforward means of examining retention in each dimension of GC × GC. Retention factors on similar and dissimilar column pairs are examined. Stationary phase bleed is shown to be retained by the second dimension column.     

Enhanced resolution comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography applied to the analysis of roasted coffee volatiles

The present research is based on the full exploitation of the separation power of a 0.05 mm internal diameter (ID) capillary, as a comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) GC (GC × GC) secondary column, with the objective of attaining very high-resolution second dimension separations. The aim was achieved by using a split-flow system developed in previous research [P.Q. Tranchida, A. Casilli, P. Dugo, G. Dugo, L. Mondello, Anal. Chem. 79 (2007) 2266], and a dual-oven GC × GC instrument. The column combination employed consisted of a polar 30 m × 0.25 mm ID column connected, by means of a T union, to a detector-linked high-resolution 1.1 m × 0.05 mm ID apolar analytical column and to a 0.33 m × 0.05 mm ID retention gap; the latter was connected to a manually operated split valve. As previously demonstrated, the use of a split valve enables the regulation of gas flows through both analytical columns, generating the most appropriate gas linear velocities. Comprehensive 2D GC experiments were carried out on Arabica roasted coffee volatiles (previously extracted by means of solid-phase microextraction) with the split-valve closed (equal to what can be defined as conventional GC × GC) and with the split-valve opened at various degrees. The reasons why it is absolutely not effective to use a 0.05 mm ID column as second dimension in a conventional GC × GC instrument will be discussed and demonstrated. On the contrary, the use of a 0.05 mm ID column as second dimension, under ideal conditions in a split-flow, twin-oven system, will also be illustrated and discussed.     

Development of a switchable multidimensional/comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic analytical system

In this study, a new system for analysis using a dual comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/targeted multidimensional gas chromatography (switchable GC × GC/targeted MDGC) analysis was developed. The configuration of this system not only permits the independent operation of GC, GC × GC and targeted MDGC analyses in separate analyses, but also allows the mode to be switched from GC × GC to targeted MDGC any number of times through a single analysis. By incorporating a Deans switch microfluidics transfer module prior to a cryotrapping device, the flow stream from the first dimension column can be directed to either one of two second dimension columns in a classical heart-cutting operation. Both second columns pass through the cryotrap to allow solute bands to be focused and then rapidly remobilized to the respective second columns. A short second column enables GC × GC operation, whilst a longer column is used for targeted MDGC. Validation of the system was performed using a standard mixture of compounds relevant to essential oil analysis, and then using compounds present at different abundances in lavender essential oil. Reproducibility of retention times and peak area responses demonstrated that there was negligible variation in the system over the course of multiple heart-cuts, and proved the reliable operation of the system. An application of the system to lavender oil, as a more complex sample, was carried out to affirm system feasibility, and demonstrate the ability of the system to target multiple components in the oil. The system was proposed to be useful for study of aroma-impact compounds where GC × GC can be incorporated with MDGC to permit precise identification of aroma-active compounds, where heart-cut multidimensional GC-olfactometry detection (MDGC-O) is a more appropriate technology for odour assessment.     

Optimized use of a 50 μm ID secondary column in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

The objective of the present research is directed towards the optimized use of a 50 μm ID secondary column, in a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC × GC–qMS) system. The analytical aim was achieved by exploiting a split-flow GC × GC approach, and a rapid-scanning qMS instrument. The stationary phase combination consisted of an apolar (silphenylene polymer) 30 m × 0.25 mm ID column, linked by means of a Y-union, to an MS-connected 1 m × 0.05 mm ID polar one [poly(ethyleneglycol)], and to a 0.20 m × 0.05 mm ID uncoated capillary segment; the latter was connected to a manually operated split-valve. It will be herein demonstrated that the split-flow GC × GC approach, successfully employed in previous H₂-based, flame ionization detection experiments, provides equally satisfactory results using mass spectrometric detection and helium as carrier gas. An optimized split-flow GC × GC–qMS method was developed and exploited for the analysis of a perfume sample. The results attained were compared with those observed using the same analytical column combination, but with no flow-splitting. It was found that it is not convenient to employ a 50 μm ID secondary column in a conventional GC × GC–MS instrument. On the contrary, the use a 50 μm ID secondary column, in a split-flow, twin-oven system, provided a good performance. A recently developed comprehensive chromatography software was used for data processing.     

Separation of diisopropylnaphthalene isomers

The separation of diisopropylnaphthalenes was reinvestigated. The application of GC × GC appears to be a clear and necessary improvement over the use of single column techniques, with a polar (CP-Wax-52) column as reference technique, and a non-polar (CP-Sil-8) column as an alternative. Both qualitative and quantitative separations of DIPN isomers showed to be superior on GC × GC. The composition of both a DIPN mixture resulting from a typical experiment with a zeolite catalyst and a commercial one could be quantitatively determined in this way.     

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.     

Qualitative drug analysis of hair extracts by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

A technique using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOFMS) is applied to a qualitative analysis of three sample extracts from hair suspected of containing various drug compounds. The samples were also subjected to a quantitative target analysis for codeine, morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), amphetamine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), methadone, and benzylpiperazine (BZP) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). GC × GC/TOFMS provided a non-specific procedure that identified various drugs, metabolites, and impurities not included in the target analysis. They included cocaine, diazepam, and methaqualone (quaalude). Comprehensive GC × GC separation was achieved using twin-stage cryo-modulation to focus eluant from a DB-5ms (5% phenyl) to a BPX50 (50% phenyl) GC column. The TOF mass spectrometer provided unit mass resolution in the mass range m/z 5–1000 and rapid spectral acquisition (≤500 spectra/s). Clean mass spectra of the individual components were obtained using mass spectral deconvolution software. The ‘unknown’ components were identified by comparison with mass spectra stored in a library database.     

High-temperature two-dimensional gas chromatography of hydrocarbons up to nC60 for analysis of vacuum gas oils

In a tense energetic context, the characterization of heavy petroleum fractions becomes essential. Conventional comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (2D-GC or GC × GC) is widely used for middle distillates analysis, but only a few applications are devoted to these heavier fractions. In this paper, it is shown how the optimization of GC × GC separation allowed the determination of suitable high-temperature (HT) conditions, adjusting column properties and operating conditions. 2D separations were evaluated using 2D separation criteria and a new concept of 2D asymmetry (As_2D). New HT conditions allowed the extension of GC × GC range of applications to heavier hydrocarbons, up to nC₆₀. A first application of high-temperature two-dimensional gas chromatography (HT-2D-GC) to a full vacuum gas oil (VGO) feed stock is described. Comparisons with other standardized methods illustrate the high potential of HT-2D-GC for heavy fractions analysis.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for metabonomics: Biomarker discovery for diabetes mellitus

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) coupled with pattern recognition methods was applied to analyze plasma from diabetic patients and healthy controls. After sample preparation and GC × GC-TOFMS analysis, collected data were transformed, the peak alignment between different chromatograms was performed to generate the metabolites’ peak table, then orthogonal signal correction filtered partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OSC-PLSDA) was carried out to model the data and discover metabolites with a significant concentration change in diabetic patients. With the method above, diabetic patients and healthy controls could be correctly distinguished based on the metabolic abnormity in plasma. Five potential biomarkers including glucose, 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and phosphate were identified. It was found that elevated free fatty acids were essential pathophysiological factors in diabetes mellitus which reflected either the hyperglycemia or the deregulation of fatty acids metabolism. These potential biomarkers in plasma, e.g. palmitic acid, linoleic acid and 2-hydroxybutyric acid might be helpful in the diagnosis or further study of diabetes mellitus. This study shows the practicability and advantage of GC × GC-TOFMS coupled with data analysis and mining for metabonomics in biomarker discovery.     

Optimization of two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry for separation and estimation of the residues of 160 pesticides and 25 persistent organic pollutants in grape and wine

Two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometric (TOFMS) method was optimized for simultaneous analysis of 160 pesticides, 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 12 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and bisphenol A in grape and wine. GC × GC–TOFMS could separate all the 185 analytes within 38 min with >85% NIST library-based mass spectral confirmations. The matrix effect quantified as the ratio of the slope of matrix-matched to solvent calibrations was within 0.5–1.5 for most analytes. LOQ of most of the analytes was ≤10 μg/L with nine exceptions having LOQs of 12.5–25 μg/L. Recoveries ranged between 70 and 120% with <20% expanded uncertainties for 151 and 148 compounds in grape and wine, respectively, with intra-laboratory Horwitz ratio <0.2 for all analytes. The method was evaluated in the incurred grape samples where residues of cypermethrin, permethrin, chlorpyriphos, metalaxyl and etophenprox were detected at below MRL.     

GCxGC/TOF MS technique-A new tool in identification of insect pheromones: Analysis of the persimmon bark borer sex pheromone gland

Conventional gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and two-dimensional (GC × GC) gas chromatography using a time-of-flight mass spectrometric detector (TOFMS), were combined to analyse the female sex pheromone gland extract of the persimmon bark borer, Euzophera batangensis. GC-EAD analysis produced two EAD responses in GC areas where no compounds were detected by FID detection. GC × GC/TOFMS analysis of this area indicated the presence of several chemicals, including (Z9,E12)-tetradeca-9,12-dien-1-ol and (Z9)-tetradec-9-en-1-ol, pheromone components of closely related Euzophera species. Spectral characteristics, retention behaviour and the ability to elicit GC-EAD responses imply that both identified unsaturated alcohols are candidates for E. batangensis sex pheromone components. GC × GC/TOFMS facilitated the analysis of complex matrices on a subnanogram level and was shown to have great potential as a powerful tool in the analysis of insect pheromones.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with solid phase microextraction as a powerful tool for quantification of ethyl carbamate in fortified wines. The case study of Madeira wine

An analytical methodology based on headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography—time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–ToFMS) was developed for the identification and quantification of the toxic contaminant ethyl carbamate (EC) directly in fortified wines. The method performance was assessed for dry/medium dry and sweet/medium sweet model wines, and for quantification purposes, calibration plots were performed for both matrices using the ion extraction chromatography (IEC) mode (m/z 62). Good linearity was obtained with a regression coefficient (r²) higher than 0.981. A good precision was attained (R.S.D. <20%) and low detection limits (LOD) were achieved for dry (4.31 μg/L) and sweet (2.75 μg/L) model wines. The quantification limits (LOQ) and recovery for dry wines were 14.38 μg/L and 88.6%, whereas for sweet wines were 9.16 μg/L and 99.4%, respectively. The higher performance was attainted with sweet model wine, as increasing of glucose content improves the volatile compound in headspace, and a better linearity, recovery and precision were achieved. The analytical methodology was applied to analyse 20 fortified Madeira wines including different types of wine (dry, medium dry, sweet, and medium sweet) obtained from several harvests in Madeira Island (Portugal). The EC levels ranged from 54.1 μg/L (medium dry) to 162.5 μg/L (medium sweet).     

Analysis of hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector

The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites in human urine is the method of choice for assessing exposure to carcinogenic compounds. The objective of this study was the development of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) method using a flame ionisation detector (FID) to simultaneously determine 10 hydroxylated PAH. The method was based on enzymatic deconjugation, liquid–liquid extraction, and trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization of the analytes by microwave heating. Satisfactory separation was achieved. The coefficient of variance was 3.8–12.8%. LOD was 0.03–0.18 μg/L, and LOQ was 0.1–0.5 μg/L. The mean recovery was 76%. The method was applied to the analysis of urine from smokers and non-smokers.