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.     

Screening of volatile composition from Portuguese multifloral honeys using headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry

The volatile composition from four types of multifloral Portuguese (produced in Madeira Island) honeys was investigated by a suitable analytical procedure based on dynamic headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry detection (GC-qMS). The performance of five commercially available SPME fibres: 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS; 85 μm polyacrylate, PA; 50/30 μm divinylbenzene/carboxen on polydimethylsiloxane, DVB/CAR/PDMS (StableFlex); 75 μm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane, CAR/PDMS, and 65 μm carbowax/divinylbenzene, CW/DVB; were evaluated and compared. The highest amounts of extract, in terms of the maximum signal obtained for the total volatile composition, were obtained with a DVB/CAR/PDMS coating fibre at 60 °C during an extraction time of 40 min with a constant stirring at 750 rpm, after saturating the sample with NaCl (30%). Using this methodology more than one hundred volatile compounds, belonging to different biosynthetic pathways were identified, including monoterpenols, C₁₃-norisoprenoids, sesquiterpenes, higher alcohols, ethyl esters and fatty acids. The main components of the HS-SPME samples of honey were in average ethanol, hotrienol, benzeneacetaldehyde, furfural, trans-linalool oxide and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone.     

Headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometric methodology for the establishment of the volatile composition of Passiflora fruit species

Dynamic headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis (GC-_qMS), was used to investigate the aroma profile of different species of passion fruit samples. The performance of five commercially available SPME fibres: 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene, PDMS/DVB; 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS; 85 μm polyacrylate, PA; 50/30 μm divinylbenzene/carboxen on polydimethylsiloxane, DVB/CAR/PDMS (StableFlex); and 75 μm carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane, CAR/PDMS; was evaluated and compared. Several extraction times and temperature conditions were also tested to achieve optimum recovery. The SPME fibre coated with 65 μm PDMS/DVB afforded the highest extraction efficiency, when the samples were extracted at 50 °C for 40 min with a constant stirring velocity of 750 rpm, after saturating the sample with NaCl (17%, w/v — 0.2 g). A comparison among different passion fruit species has been established in terms of qualitative and semi-quantitative differences in volatile composition. By using the optimal extraction conditions and GC-qMS it was possible to tentatively identify seventy one different compounds in Passiflora species: 51 volatiles in Passiflora edulis Sims (purple passion fruit), 24 in P. edulis Sims f. flavicarpa (yellow passion fruit) and 21 compounds in Passiflora mollissima (banana passion fruit). It was found that the ethyl esters comprise the largest class of the passion fruit volatiles, including 82.8% in P. edulis variety, 77.4% in P. edulis Sims f. flavicarpa variety and 39.9% in P. mollissima.The semi-quantitative results were then submitted to principal component analysis (PCA) in order to establish relationships between the compounds and the different passion fruit species under investigation.     

Quantification approach for assessment of sparkling wine volatiles from different soils, ripening stages, and varieties by stir bar sorptive extraction with liquid desorption

Stir bar sorptive extraction with liquid desorption followed by large volume injection coupled to gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (SBSE-LD/LVI-GC-qMS) was applied for the quantification of varietal and fermentative volatiles in sparkling wines. The analytical data were performed by using suitable standards of monoterpene hydrocarbons (α-pinene), monoterpenols (linalool), sesquiterpenoids (E,E-farnesol, Z-nerolidol, and guaiazulene), C₁₃ norisoprenoids (β-ionone), aliphatic and aromatic alcohols (hexanol and 2-phenylethanol), and esters (hexyl acetate and ethyl decanoate) as model compounds. The wine volatiles were quantified using the structurally related standards. The methodology showed good linearity over the concentration range tested, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.950 to 0.997, and a reproducibility of 9-18%. The SBSE-LD/LVI-GC-qMS methodology allowed, in a single run, the quantification of 71 wine volatiles that can be quantified accurately at levels lower than their respective olfactory thresholds. This methodology was used for assessment of sparkling wine volatiles from different soils, ripening stages, and varieties. The variety and soil influenced significantly the volatile composition of sparkling wines; lower effect was observed for the ripening stage of grapes picked up one week before or after the maturity state.     

Optimisation of solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry based methodology to establish the global volatile signature in pulp and skin of Vitis vinifera L. grape varieties

The volatiles (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) responsible for aroma are mainly present in skin of grape varieties. Thus, the present investigation is directed towards the optimisation of a solvent free methodology based on headspace-solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS) in order to establish the global volatile composition in pulp and skin of Bual and Bastardo Vitis vinifera L. varieties. A deep study on the extraction-influencing parameters was performed, and the best results, expressed as GC peak area, number of identified compounds and reproducibility, were obtained using 4 g of sample homogenised in 5 mL of ultra-pure Milli-Q water in a 20 mL glass vial with addition of 2 g of sodium chloride (NaCl). A divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fibre was selected for extraction at 60 °C for 45 min under continuous stirring at 800 rpm. More than 100 VOCs and SVOCs, including 27 monoterpenoids, 27 sesquiterpenoids, 21 carbonyl compounds, 17 alcohols (from which 2 aromatics), 10 C₁₃ norisoprenoids and 5 acids were identified. The results showed that, for both grape varieties, the levels and number of volatiles in skin were considerably higher than those observed in pulp. According to the data obtained by principal component analysis (PCA), the establishment of the global volatile signature of grape and the relationship between different part of grapes—pulp and skin, may be an useful tool to winemaker decision to define the vinification procedures that improves the organoleptic characteristics of the corresponding wines and consequently contributed to an economic valorization and consumer acceptance.     

Confirmation and identification of the impurities in metolachlor using gas chromatography interfaced with orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-oaTOFMS)

The confirmation and identification of the impurities in metolachlor (a herbicde) by using gas chromatography-orthogonal acceleration time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-oaTOFMS) and gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-qMS) are described. For the accurate mass measurement can be carried by GC-oaTOFMS, the elemental compositions of molecular and fragment ions in the spectra are suggested. In the experiment the average of mass deviations between the measured and theoretical values was below 2.5 mDa. Finally ten impurities were confirmed and identified. They accounted for 94% of the total impurities by weight.     

全二维气相色谱-四极杆质谱法检测植物油脂中脂肪酸

建立了植物油脂中31种脂肪酸成分的全二维气相色谱-四极杆质谱(GC×GC-qMS)分析方法。样品经甲酯化衍生后,以DB-1柱(30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm)作为一维柱、DB-Wax柱(3.2 m×0.1 mm×0.1 μm)作为二维柱组成柱系统进行分离,在调制周期为3.5 s、四极杆质量扫描范围为m/z 40～350的条件下,植物油脂中31种脂肪酸成分可以在50 min内得到准确和灵敏的检测。将本方法应用于实际样品的分析,灵敏度较传统的气相色谱-质谱法提高了100倍以上,一些植物油中微量的脂肪酸成分也因此被检出。该研究不仅为植物油中脂肪酸成分的分析提供了新的技术手段,同时对于确保食用植物油的质量安全、消除食用植物油的掺假伪劣等均有重要意义。