Comparison of SPE-TD-GC-FID with UPLC-PDA and GC-MS Methods for Analysis of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene Isomers in Solid-Liquid Mixing Paints

Three methods were developed for analysis of benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene (BTX) in a solid-liquid mixing paint. These methods were based on solid phase extraction-thermal desorption-gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (SPE-TD-GC-FID), ultra performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector (UPLC-PDA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). At their optimum conditions of operation, the developed methods were compared in terms of recovery, sensitivity, selectivity and universality. Although the time required for GC-MS analysis was shorter than for GC-FID and UPLC-PDA, it offered relatively poorer recoveries and suffered from matrix interferences. All of the mentioned methods were proven to be ideal for the analysis of targeted analytes; SPE-TD-GC-FID was particularly fit for the determination of trace level BTX residues present in the complex matrix. As one of the sample pretreatment techniques, the novel SPE also showed some selectivity towards BTX and was found to be superior to the conventional SPE.