Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography using a miniaturized multiloop splitter-based non-cryogenic artificial trapping (M-SNAT) modulation device for analysis of cannabis samples

Abstract

Multiloop splitter-based non-cryogenic artificial trapping (M-SNAT) modulation technique was developed, miniaturized and applied in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) for analysis of cannabis samples. The approach employed deactivated fuse silica (DFS) columns configured into multiple loop splitter system halving the perimeters of the progressively upstream loops. This splitter device was located between the first (1D) semi-nonpolar column outlet and a microfluidic Deans switch (DS). Each splitter loop splits a peak into two subpeaks having the same area with different void times. Three loops were then applied resulting in the number of the split subpeaks (nsplit) of 8 for each peak, and retention time differences between any two adjacent subpeaks (∆tR,split) were the same. By applying periodic heartcut event (H/C) within every artificial modulation period (PAM) of nsplit×∆tR,split, comprehensive split-and-trapped modulation profiles of analytes could be selectively transferred onto the second (2D) polar column (30 m) without cryogen consumption. This artificial modulation system was applied for analysis of cannabis samples with enhanced 2D peak capacity (2nc∼15). The established method was applied to analyse cannabis extracts using vegetable oils with or without frying process. This reveals 454 different peaks with 76, 92, 35 and 70 specific components specifically observed by using olive oil extraction (OE), fried OE, coconut oil extraction (CE) and fried CE, respectively.