Simultaneous determination of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and PBDEs in food

Established and comprehensively validated methodology for the analysis of PCDDs, PCDFs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in food, animal feed and other matrices is presented. The method achieves the analytical standards of EU protocols (2002/69/EC and 2002/70/EC) that are used to determine the compliance of food and animal feed to maximum permissible levels of chlorinated dioxins in these commodities. The methodology provides WHO–TEQ data for dioxins and PCBs as well as individual concentrations for toxic PCDD/F congeners and >50 commonly occurring PCBs. In addition, the methodology allows the simultaneous determination of individual polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE) congeners. A wide range of ¹³Carbon-labelled surrogates allow accurate internal standardisation, and measurements are carried out using high resolution GC coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry except for mono-, tetra, ortho-substituted PCBs where unit resolution mass spectrometry can be used instead. Evidence of internal as well as external validation through the frequent use of reference materials, and successful participation in international inter-comparison exercises over many years is presented. A large number of different food types have been analysed for dioxins and PCBs using this methodology over several years and typical congener profiles for various food matrices are discussed.     

Enantiomeric separation of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls on beta-cyclodextrin capillary columns by means of heart-cut multidimensional gas chromatography and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography. Application to food samples

Three commercially available chiral capillary columns, Chirasil-Dex, BGB-176SE, and BGB-172, have been evaluated for the separation into enantiomers of the 19 chiral polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners stable at room temperature. The enantiomers of 15 chiral PCBs were, at least to some extent, separated using these beta-cyclodextrin based columns. Multidimensional techniques, such as heart-cut multi-dimensional gas chromatography (heart-cut MDGC) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC), were investigated for their ability to solve coelution problems with other PCBs present in commercial mixtures and real-life samples. Heart-cut MDGC improved the separation as compared to one-dimensional GC, and enantiomeric fractions of the investigated chiral PCBs could be determined free from interferences. However, limitations on the number of target compounds that can be transferred to the second column in a single run and, therefore, the time consumption, have led to the evaluation of GC x GC as an alternative for this type of analysis. With GC x GC, two column set-ups were tested, both having a chiral column as first-dimension column, and two different polar stationary phase columns in the second dimension. On using both column combinations, congeners 84, 91, 95, 132, 135, 136, 149, 174, and 176 could be determined free from coelutions with other PCBs. Results on the application of heart-cut MDGC to food samples such as milk and cheese are given, as well as the first results on the application of GC x GC to this type of samples.     

Certification of SRM 1589a PCBs,pesticides, PBDEs,and dioxins/furans in human serum

The Certificate of Analysis for SRM 1589a PCBs, Pesticides, PBDEs, and Dioxins/Furans in Human Serum has been updated to include certified concentration values for 27 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, three chlorinated pesticides, and four polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners as well as reference concentration values for 27 additional PCB congeners, six additional chlorinated pesticides, three additional PBDE congeners, and selected polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). This represents an addition of concentration values for 29 PCB congeners and for PBDE congeners that were not quantified in the previous issue of SRM 1589a. With the increased number of certified and reference concentration values for PCBs and the inclusion of certified and reference concentration values for PBDEs, this serum material will be more useful as a reference material for contaminant monitoring in human tissues and fluids. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

二噁英、多溴联苯醚和多氯联苯同时测定方法的研究

本实验以美国环保署1613B、1614和1668A等标准方法为基础,建立了同一样品中二噁英、多溴联苯醚和多氯联苯的同位素稀释-多层色谱柱净化-高分辨气质联用-高通量同时分析方法.该方法利用弗罗里土对二噁英组分吸附能力强的特点,采用不同极性的溶剂淋洗,先实现二噁英组分和其它两个组分的分离,再利用多溴联苯醚更易保留在硝酸银硅胶(10%)柱上的特点,实现了多溴联苯醚和多氯联苯两类化合物的分离.实验优化了样品前处理过程,纯化过程中去除了大量干扰物质,同时将三类化合物在前处理中进行分离,消除了相互干扰,实现了准确定量.纯化效果和检测限均符合美国环保署相关标准的要求.通过标准参考物的比对和实际样品的分析验证了方法的可靠性和结果的准确性.     

Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography. Concepts,Instrumentation, and Applications – Part 2: Comprehensive Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography

The writer of this review published in 1978 a three‐part article on two‐dimensional gas chromatography in the first three issues of this journal [1]. The review was written at a time when capillary column GC was still in its infancy. Commercial columns were (essentially) unavailable and sample introduction into capillary columns was done exclusively in the split mode. Two‐dimensional separations were explored in only a few laboratories. The limitations of capillary column technology made this exercise rather difficult. The introduction of fused silica capillary columns in the early eighties drastically changed the landscape in which gas chromatography was practiced. It took the chromatographic community just a few years to convert from packed columns to capillary columns. Instrumentation and accessories specifically designed for capillary column use came onto the market. This writer had great hopes that the revolution in capillary column GC would be mirrored in the development of instrumentation for Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography. This never materialized. On the contrary, tentative steps taken by a few manufacturers and suppliers of chromatographic equipment fizzled out. It was perhaps the introduction of relatively inexpensive and user friendly GC/MS instrumentation, in combination with nearly indestructible fused silica capillary columns that took away the incentive to develop commercially viable Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography. Much of the thinking went like this: why insist on good chromatography if mass spectrometry can do the job without the need of complete separation. Some progress in the further development of conventional Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography has certainly been made over the last 20 years but there has not been a great deal of excitement. Applications have also been relatively sparse and they are limited to just a few areas. Science does not remain static and chromatography is no exception. Progress in gas chromatography is driven by new technology and ideas. Substantial improvements in two‐dimensional GC were not forthcoming until Phillips and his research group introduced and implemented an entirely new form of Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography, called comprehensive GC×GC. This breakthrough occurred only in 1991 [2]. It does take some time before scientists change attitudes and habits. There is always a time lag between the introduction of new technology and its general acceptance. The public's attitude toward comprehensive Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography is probably no exception. The number of scientists who are actively pursuing this new branch of gas chromatography is still very small. It is often a single individual who carries the torch. J.B. Phillips' name is synonymous with comprehensive Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography. He is not only its inventor and proponent but his fertile mind has initiated research in other related areas. Sadly, he passed aware shortly before this review was written. This contribution is dedicated to his memory.     

The Need for Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography: Extent of Overlap in One‐Dimensional Gas Chromatograms

The need for two‐dimensional gas chromatography is justified by the extent of peak overlap in one‐dimensional gas chromatograms (GCs) of complex mixtures. Such overlap was predicted long ago by statistical‐overlap theory (SOT). In this paper, SOT is conceptually reviewed and its predictions are shown to be quantitatively accurate. GCs of complex mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls, pyridine‐ and nitrogen‐containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxins and dibenzofurans, fatty acid methyl esters, flavors and fragrances, and naphtha were simulated by commercial GC software on DB‐1, DB‐5, and Stabilwax stationary phases. The numbers of peak maxima in the GCs agreed with predictions of SOT, when the interval of time between successive peaks of pure compounds was described by Poisson statistics. This agreement was realized even though the time intervals actually are deterministic, not statistical. In addition, the numbers of mixture components were predicted with accuracy by regression of peak numbers against SOT. Similar regressions have been reported before, but the theory used here is more sophisticated and its predictions consequently are more accurate. Future directions for finalizing SOT are suggested.     

Statistical-overlap theory for elliptical zones of high aspect ratio in comprehensive two-dimensional separations

The low prediction by statistical-overlap theory of the numbers of singlets and peaks in two-dimensional separations containing zones represented by either circles of small number or eccentric ellipses of any number is shown to result from use of probability expressions for unbound spaces of infinite extent. An exact theory is derived for the probability of singlet formation in a reduced two-dimensional space of unit length, width, and area. The probability is a weighted sum of the probabilities of singlet formation in the interior, edge, and corner regions of the space, which depend only on saturation. The weighting factors are the fractions of area associated with each region and depend on the number of zones, the aspect ratio, the saturation, and the ellipse's spatial orientation. The average numbers of doublets, triplets, and peaks in the space are approximated by combining these results with Roach's equations describing the clustering of circles in an unbound two-dimensional space. Simulations show that theory predicts the number of singlets, doublets, triplets, and peaks, when the number of zones is 25 or more, the aspect ratio is 100 or less, and the saturation is 2 or less. The relationship is derived between the aspect ratios of ellipses in the reduced space and actual separation space. Calculations are presented for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.     

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic analysis of commercial lemon-flavored beverages

Fresh lemon juice and lemon-flavored beverages were analyzed by using comprehensive 2-D GC (GC x GC) with flame-ionization detection, with a nonpolar-polar column combination. A low-alcohol, ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage was also analyzed as fresh, and after deterioration for 12 days at 50 degrees C. Identification of some of the components in the 2-D plots was performed by comparison of peak positions of authentic standards and comparison with 1-D GC. However, without the aid of GC x GC-mass spectral data, only 24 components were identified; a large number of components remained unassigned. In some soft drinks obtained in the market, components indicative of deterioration, such as p-methylacetophenone and p-cymen-8-ol were already present in the products. In contrast, even upon heat challenge, a low-alcohol RTD beverage did not generate deterioration products of citral, such as p-methylacetophenone and the intermediates, p-menth-2-ene-1,8-diols. This was apparently related to the fact that the original formulation contained only a minute amount of the citral ingredient.     

The role of sample preparation in multidimensional gas chromatographic separations for non‐targeted analysis with the focus on recent biomedical,food, and plant applications

In this review, we consider and discuss the affinity and complementarity between a generic sample preparation technique and the comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography process. From the initial technical development focus (e.g., on the GC×GC and solid‐phase microextraction techniques), the trend is inevitably shifting toward more applied challenges, and therefore, the preparation of the sample should be carefully considered in any GC×GC separation for an overreaching research. We highlight recent biomedical, food, and plant applications (2016–July 2020), and specifically those in which the combination of tailored sample preparation methods and GC×GC–MS has proven to be beneficial in the challenging aspects of non‐targeted analysis. Specifically on the sample preparation, we report on gas‐phase, solid‐phase, and liquid‐phase extractions, and derivatization procedures that have been used to extract and prepare volatile and semi‐volatile metabolites for the successive GC×GC analysis. Moreover, we also present a milestone section reporting the early works that pioneered the combination of sample preparation techniques with GC×GC for non‐targeted analysis.     

Elucidation of fatty acid profiles in vegetable oils exploiting group-type patterning and enhanced sensitivity of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

The present research is focused on the use of comprehensive 2-D GC (GCxGC) for the thorough elucidation of fatty acid (FA) profiles contained in vegetable oils; the samples analysed consisted of extra-virgin olive oil and refined hazelnut oil. The enhanced sensitivity and the formation of group-type patterns provided by GCxGC enabled the identification and quantification of both well-known and rather unexpected FAs contained in the lipid matrices. Peak assignment was, in most cases, supported by using pure standard compounds. Of particular interest was the identification of a series of odd-numbered FAs in both samples. The results attained to demonstrate the usefulness of GCxGC also for the analysis of supposedly low-complex samples.     

Recent developments in the HPLC separation of phenolic compounds

Phenolic compounds represent a class of highly complex naturally occurring molecules that possess a range of beneficial health properties. As a result, considerable attention has been devoted to the analysis of phenolics in a variety of samples. HPLC is the workhorse method for phenolic separation. However, conventional HPLC methods provide insufficient resolving power when faced with the complexity of real-world phenolic fractions. This limitation has been traditionally circumvented by extensive sample fractionation, multiple analysis methods and/or selective detection strategies. On the other hand, there is an increasing demand for improved throughput and resolving power from the chromatographic methods used for phenolic analyses. Fortunately, during the last decade, a number of important technological advances in LC have demonstrated significant gains in terms of both speed and resolution. These include ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC), high-temperature liquid chromatography (HTLC), multi-dimensional separations as well as various new stationary phase chemistries and morphologies. In recent years, these technologies have also found increasing application for phenolic analysis. This review seeks to provide an updated overview of the application of recent advances in HPLC to phenolic separation, with the emphasis on how these methodologies can contribute to improve performance in HPLC analysis of phenolics.     

Pressure‐Tunable Dual‐Column Ensembles for High‐Speed GC and GC/MS

A series‐coupled ensemble of two capillary GC columns of different selectivity with an adjustable pressure at the column junction point is used to obtain tunable selectivity for high‐speed GC and GC/TOFMS. An electronic pressure controller with a 0.1‐psi step size is used to obtain numerous computer‐selected unique selectivities. System configurations for conventional, atmospheric‐pressure outlet operation with flame ionization detection and for vacuum‐outlet operation with photoionization detection are described for GC‐only experiments. Polydimethylsiloxane is used as the non‐polar column and polyethylene glycol (atmospheric outlet) or triflouropropylpolysiloxane (vacuum outlet) is used as the polar column. For GC/TOFMS experiments, 5% phenyl polydimethylsiloxane was used as the non‐polar column, and polyethylene glycol was used as the polar column. The time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer can acquire up to 500 complete mass spectra per second. Since spectral continuity is achieved across the entire chromatographic peak profile, severely overlapping peaks can be spectrally deconvoluted for high‐speed characterization of completely unknown mixtures. For mixture components with significantly different fragmentation patterns, spectral deconvolution can be achieved for chromatographic peak separations of as little as 6.0 ms. This can result is very large peak capacity for time compressed (not completely resolved) chromatograms. The use of columns with tunable selectivity allows for precise peak‐position control, which can result in more efficient utilization of available peak capacity and thus further time compression of chromatograms. The limits of tunability and deconvolution are tested for near co‐elutions of different classes of hydrocarbon compounds as well as for more multi‐functional mixtures.     

Evaluation of different two‐dimensional chromatographic techniques for proteomic analysis of mouse cardiac tissue

In proteomics experiments the first critical step after sampling is certainly sample preparation. Multidimensional chromatography techniques have emerged as a powerful tool for the large‐scale analysis of such complex samples as biological samples. In order to evaluate these separation techniques, microgram quantities of protein extracted from mouse heart tissue were fractionated by four different chromatographic methods. Regarding peptide‐level fractionation, the first dimension of separation was performed with high‐pH reversed‐phase chromatography (pH‐RP) and strong cation exchange chromatography (SCX). Regarding protein‐level fractionation, C₈ protein reversed‐phase (C₈‐RP Prot) and high‐recovery protein reversed‐phase (hr‐RP Prot) were used instead. The second dimension consisted of a reversed‐phase nano‐HPLC on‐Chip coupled to an electrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer for tandem mass spectrometric analysis. The performance and relative fractionation efficiencies of each technique were assessed by comparing the total number of proteins identified by each method. The peptide‐level pH‐RP and the hr‐RP Prot protein‐level separations were the best methods, identifying 1338 and 1303 proteins, respectively. The peptide‐level SCX, with 509 proteins identified, was the worst method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Advances in analytical techniques for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dioxin-like PCBs

Analytical techniques for the determination of polychorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) and dioxin-like PCBs (DLPCB) are reviewed. The focus of the review is on recent advances in methodology and analytical procedures. The paper also reviews toxicology, the development of toxic equivalent factors (TEF) and the determination of toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) values. Sources, occurrence and temporal trends of PCDD/PCDF are summarized to provide examples of levels and concentration ranges for the methods and techniques reviewed.     

Enhancing the Limit of Detection for Comprehensive Two‐Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC) using Bilinear Chemometric Analysis

The chemometric method referred to as the generalized rank annihilation method (GRAM) is used to improve the precision, accuracy, and resolution of comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) data. Because GC×GC signals follow a bilinear structure, GC×GC signals can be readily extracted from noise by chemometric techniques such as GRAM. This resulting improvement in signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) and detectability is referred to as bilinear signal enhancement. Here, GRAM uses bilinear signal enhancement on both resolved and unresolved GC×GC peaks that initially have a low S/N in the original GC×GC data. In this work, the chemometric method of GRAM is compared to two traditional peak integration methods for quantifying GC×GC analyte signals. One integration method uses a threshold to determine the signal of a peak of interest. With this integration method only those data points above the limit of detection and within a selected area are integrated to produce the total analyte signal for calibration and quantification. The other integration method evaluated did not employ a threshold, and simply summed all the data points in a selected region to obtain a total analyte signal. Substantial improvements in quantification precision, accuracy, and limit of detection are obtained by using GRAM, as compared to when either peak integration method is applied. In addition, the GRAM results are found to be more accurate than results obtained by peak integration, because GRAM more effectively corrects for the slight baseline offset remaining after the background subtraction of data. In the case of a 2.7‐ppm propylbenzene synthetic sample the quantification result with GRAM is 2.6 times more precise and 4.2 times more accurate than the integration method without a threshold, and 18 times more accurate than the integration method with a threshold. The limit of detection for propylbenzene was 0.6 ppm (parts per million by mass) using GRAM, without implementing any sample preconcentration prior to injection. GRAM is also demonstrated as a means to resolve overlapped signals, while enhancing the S/N. Four alkyl benzene signals of low S/N which were not resolved by GC×GC are mathematically resolved and quantified.     

Simultaneous, sequential quantitative achiral-chiral analysis by two-dimensional liquid chromatography

In general, chromatographic analysis of chiral compounds involves a minimum of two methods; a primary achiral method for assay and impurity analysis and a secondary chiral method for assessing chiral purity. Achiral method resolves main enantiomeric pairs of component from potential impurities and degradation products and chiral method resolves enantiomeric pairs of the main component and diastereomer pairs. Reversed-phase chromatographic methods are preferred for assay and impurity analysis (high efficiency and selectivity) whereas chiral separation is performed by reverse phase, normal phase, or polar organic mode. In this work, we have demonstrated the use of heart-cutting (LC-LC) and comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) in simultaneous, sequential achiral and chiral analysis and quantitation of minor, undesired enantiomer in the presence of major, desired enantiomer using phenylalanine as an example. The results were comparable between LC-LC and LC × LC with former offering better sensitivity and accuracy. The quantitation range was over three orders of magnitude with undesired D-phenylalanine detected at approximately 0.3% in the presence of predominant, desired L-phenylalanine (99.7%). The limit of quantitation was comparable to conventional high-performance liquid chromatography. A reversed-phase C18 achiral column in the primary and reversed-phase Chirobiotic Tag chiral column in the secondary dimension were used with a compatible mobile phase.     

Application of two‐dimensional liquid chromatography in the separation of traditional Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicines have been widely used to prevent and cure diseases for thousands of years. For the purpose of better understanding the extremely complicated traditional Chinese medicines, powerful separation techniques are essential. Two‐dimensional liquid chromatography has been proven to be more powerful for the separation of complex traditional Chinese medicines due to its enhanced peak capacity and resolution compared with one‐dimensional liquid chromatography. Enormous efforts have been made on the coupling of independent separation mechanisms to improve the resolving power for complex traditional Chinese medicine samples, including the development and introduction of novel stationary phases. This review aims to give an overview on the applications of two‐dimensional liquid chromatography in traditional Chinese medicine research since 2008, including comprehensive two‐dimensional liquid chromatography, heart‐cutting two‐dimensional liquid chromatography both in on‐line, and off‐line mode. Different couplings of separation modes were respectively discussed based on specific studies, with emphasis on the applications of novel stationary phases in the two‐dimensional liquid chromatography.     

Comparison of HPLC and solid phase clean-up methods for identification of PCBs in cod-liver oil by HRGC/MS-SIM technique

Summary A group of non-planar PCBs (IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) was identified in a cod-liver oil product by using high resolution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HRGC/MS) in electron impact (EI) and negative chemical ionization (NCI) modes. The cod-liver oil samples were prepared either in a cyano column by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or by a solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up procedure that included e.g. purified charcoal treatment. The two methods of sample preparation were evaluated on the basis of the detectabilities of the congeners. The GC/MS-SIM method allowed quantitative monitoring of congeners nos. 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180 at low concentration levels. Detection limits were 1.2 pg and 130 fg (m/z 292.00) in EI and NCI modes, respectively. The determination levels in EI and NCI were 1.8 pg and 290 fg in HPLC followed by HRGC/MS and 170 pg and 27 pg in SPE followed by HRGC/MS. The linear range was from 5.0 pg/l to 1.0 ng/l and from 1.0 pg/l to 1.0 ng/l in EI and NCI modes, respectively. In addition, the co-planar PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs were also screened and two of the chlorinated furanes were identified by HRGC/MS-NCI after separation from non-planar PCBs by SPE. In this case the only congeners that could be quantified were 2,3,4,7,8-PCDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF, the detection limit for them being 740 fg (m/z 351.90) with NCI. SPE allows the separation of the planar and non-planar compounds, but LC separation is more effective for separation of the compounds of interest from the matrix. LC clean-up is easier and faster to perform than SPE clean-up.Dedicated to Professor Leslie S. Ettre on the occasion of his 70th birthday.