A review of the application of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography MS-based techniques for the analysis of persistent organic pollutants and ultra-trace level of organic pollutants in environmental samples

Rafael Sarji Ngumbu,Oliver Vaye,Dan Xia

doi:10.1515/revac-2022-0034

Abstract

Abstract Analysis of complex samples in environmental matrices poses extreme challenge for analytical chemists as the number of known and unknown compounds are numerous and have varying physical and chemical properties. The introduction, over the past decade, of comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) gas chromatography (GC × GC) paired with mass spectrometry (MS) has tremendously changed the analytical profiles of ultra-trace levels of organic pollutants from different environmental media. This review article provides a summary of selected articles using comprehensive 2D GC/MS-based methodologies from January 2014 to August 2019. The applications of various MS detectors, such as single (Q) and triple (QqQ) quadrupole, low resolution and high resolution time-of-flight (TOF), and the hybrid (quadrupole TOF-MS), coupled to GC × GC, and their benefits for analyzing persistent and emerging organic pollutants when applied to different environmental matrices were discussed. Emphasis was given to reviewing some applications of GC × GC-electron capture detector (ECD) and GC × GC-μECD within the specified period as these detectors have improved selectivity and sensitivity toward halogenated (bromine and chloride) compounds found in ultra-trace levels of environmental media.

Highlights

There is a huge global demand for chemicals used in the production of different household, agriculture, industrial, and pharmaceutical products
The current review focuses on the applications of comprehensive 2D gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC × GC-MS)-based techniques for the analysis of ultra-trace levels of organic pollutants
The MS-based approach of comprehensive GC × GC for the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and an ultra-trace level of organic pollutants have been discussed in this current review

Summary

Introduction

There is a huge global demand for chemicals used in the production of different household, agriculture, industrial, and pharmaceutical products. The analysis of complex matrices including POPscontaining-transformer oil is often a daunting challenge especially when the sample contains multiple compounds or when the composition of the analyte of interest is at the ultra-trace level Conventional techniques, such as gas chromatography, are incapable of adequately separating such compounds and may even result in the overlapping of peaks, rendering analyte identification and quantification rather improbable. Special mentions were made on the format, regarding the types of MS presented by Tranchida et al [32] The authors of this current review restricted the theme around the applications of MS detection techniques that are mostly used with GC × GC analysis of POPs and ultra-trace level organic pollutants from various environmental matrices (air, soil, water, and wastewater) and recent trends over the last 5 years (2014–2019). Some techniques of GC × GC-ECD and GC × GC-μECD in the last 5 years (2014–2019) are discussed

Quadruple MS

ECD and micro-ECD

Findings

Conclusion