First Dimension Column Research Articles

Microfabricated thermal modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional micro gas chromatography: design, thermal modeling, and preliminary testing

In comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC), a modulator is placed at the juncture between two separation columns to focus and re-inject eluting mixture components, thereby enhancing the resolution and the selectivity of analytes. As part of an effort to develop a microGC x microGC prototype, in this report we present the design, fabrication, thermal operation, and initial testing of a two-stage microscale thermal modulator (microTM). The microTM contains two sequential serpentine Pyrex-on-Si microchannels (stages) that cryogenically trap analytes eluting from the first-dimension column and thermally inject them into the second-dimension column in a rapid, programmable manner. For each modulation cycle (typically 5 s for cooling with refrigeration work of 200 J and 100 ms for heating at 10 W), the microTM is kept approximately at -50 degrees C by a solid-state thermoelectric cooling unit placed within a few tens of micrometres of the device, and heated to 250 degrees C at 2800 degrees C s(-1) by integrated resistive microheaters and then cooled back to -50 degrees C at 250 degrees C s(-1). Thermal crosstalk between the two stages is less than 9%. A lumped heat transfer model is used to analyze the device design with respect to the rates of heating and cooling, power dissipation, and inter-stage thermal crosstalk as a function of Pyrex-membrane thickness, air-gap depth, and stage separation distance. Experimental results are in agreement with trends predicted by the model. Preliminary tests using a conventional capillary column interfaced to the microTM demonstrate the capability for enhanced sensitivity and resolution as well as the modulation of a mixture of alkanes.

Determination of rat plasma levels of sertraline enantiomers using direct injection with achiral–chiral column switching by LC–ESI/MS/MS

A highly sensitive and selective on-line two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometric (2D-LC–ESI/MS/MS) method to determine sertraline (SRT) enantiomers in rat plasma was developed and validated. The method was applied to separate and determine the diastereomers and enantiomers of SRT simultaneously. The 2D-LC–ESI/MS/MS system consisted of RAM column in first dimension for trapping proteineous part of plasma and a chiral Cyclobond column as second dimension for separation of enantiomers and diastereomers of SRT using 0.1% aqueous trifluoroacetic acid:acetonitrile (86:14, v/v) as mobile phase in an isocratic elution mode. The linear dynamic range was 0.5–200 ng/mL ( r 2 > 0.999). Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained over the calibration range. The assay was successfully used in the analysis of SRT enantiomers in rat plasma to support pharmacokinetic studies.

Accumulating resampling (modulation) in comprehensive two‐dimensional capillary GC (GC×GC)

During each sampling period, an accumulating resampler (modulator) in comprehensive 2-D chromatography accumulates all eluite from the first-dimension column and reinjects the whole or a portion of the accumulated material into the second-dimension column. The detrimental effect of the resampling on peak capacity of a 2-D separation comes from the broadening of the peaks along the first-dimension due to the resampling itself and due to the subsequent peak reconstruction. Sampling density (rho(S)) of resampling is the number of sampling periods per standard deviation of a peak at the outlet of the first-dimension column. It is shown that a simple formula describes the peak broadening as a function of rho(S) at any (even practically too low or too high) rho(S), for the peaks of any (not necessarily Gaussian) shape, for a wide class of peak reconstruction techniques, and for any 2-D separation (GC x GC, LC x LC, etc.). In capillary GC x GC, optimal rho(S) (rho(S,Opt)) depends on the type of the peak reconstruction and on the degree of the gas decompression along the second-dimension column. When reconstructing using linear interpolation, rho(S,Opt) = 0.7 at large and rho(S,Opt) = 0.5 at small gas decompression. The choice of exact optimal conditions is not critical. Thus, two-fold departure of actual rho(S) from rho(S,Opt) in either direction (under- or oversampling) causes only 10% drop in the net peak capacity of GC x GC. The quantitative effect of a much greater undersampling is also evaluated.

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography with parallel gradients for separation of phenolic and flavone antioxidants

Various combinations of PEG–silica, phenyl–silica and C18 columns in a single-column or serial (tandem) arrangement in the first dimension and a monolithic Chromolith column in the second dimension were tested for comprehensive two-dimensional (2D) LC × LC separation of phenolic and flavone natural antioxidants. The combinations of different stationary phase chemistries provided low selectivity correlations between the first-dimension and the second-dimension separation systems. Improvement in system orthogonality, bandwidths suppression, more regular band distribution over the whole 2D retention plane and increased peak capacity in different 2D setups was achieved by using gradients with matching profiles running in parallel in the two dimensions over the whole 2D separation time range. Instead of two sampling loops, two alternating trapping XTerra columns were used for sample fraction transfer from the first-dimension column to the second dimension. Stronger retention on the XTerra columns in comparison to PEG–silica or phenyl–silica columns in the first dimension allowed using focusing of sample fractions in narrow zones on the top of a trapping column and back-flushing into the second dimension in a very low volume of the mobile phase. This fraction transfer modulation provided significant bandwidth suppression in the second dimension. 2D systems with optimized stationary phase selectivity, parallel gradients and fraction transfer modulation using two trapping columns were applied for the analysis of natural antioxidants in beer and wine samples.

Enantiomeric analysis of amino acids by using comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography

The chiral separation of amino acids (AA) derivatised with ethyl chloroformate by using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography is reported. A commercially available enantioselective capillary column (Chirasil-l-Val) has been tested as first-dimension column. Two nonenantioselective stationary phases (BPX50 and BP1) with different column lengths were combined with the enantioselective column, which represent chiral/polar and chiral/low-polarity column sets, respectively. These column sets were evaluated to determine the most useful column combination to provide improved separation efficiency of enantioselective AA analysis. Separations of AA mixtures derivatised either as their N-trifluoroacetyl methyl esters or with methyl chloroformate, performed on a chiral/low-polarity column set, are also shown. The method was demonstrated for chiral analysis of AAs in different beer samples. The major AA in the beer samples was proline with amounts ranging from around 65-95% with minor contents of glycine and the l-enantiomers of alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. Small amounts of d-alanine, at about 1, 1.5, and 15% were detected in the three samples.

Characterisation of Stevia Rebaudiana by comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) connected on-line to electrospray ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) was employed for analysis of aqueous extract of Stevia rebaudiana. Different combinations of strong cation-exchange (SCX), amino (NH 2), and octadecyl siloxane (C 18) stationary phases were tested in the separation of all nine known sweet Stevia glycosides. A combination of C 18 as the first-dimension column and NH 2 as the second-dimension column fully separated all the glycosides from the matrix. The method proved to be quantitative and repeatable. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) for stevioside, a widely used natural sweetener, was 43.4 ng/g in dry leaves. The RSD for retention times was <0.1% and that of peak areas 4.5%.

Enantiomeric separation and quantification of ephedrine-type alkaloids in herbal materials by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

The separation of ephedrine-type alkaloids and their enantiomers in raw herbs and commercial herbal products was investigated by carrying out enantioselective separation in the first-dimension column (containing β-cyclodextrin as the chiral selector) of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) system, whereas a polar polyethylene glycol capillary column was used for separation in the second dimension. Naturally occurring ephedrine-type alkaloids and their synthetic analogues (enantiomeric counterparts) were adequately resolved from each other, as well as from potential interference species in the sample matrix using GC × GC, whereas single column GC analysis was unable to separate all the alkaloids of interest. Detection limits in the order of 0.1–1.3 μg/mL and linearity of calibration with R 2 ≥ 0.999 over approximately the range of 0.5–100 μg/mL for the quantitative determination of various ephedrine-type alkaloids were obtained. The commercial herbal products tested contained mostly (−)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, (−)- N-methylephedrine and (−)-norephedrine, with concentrations in the range of 40–2100, 0–1300, 15–300 and 0–30 μg/g of the product, respectively, and repeatability of analysis was generally in the range of 1–5%. The present GC × GC method is effective and useful for the determination of the dosage levels of the principle ephedrine-type alkaloids in commercial health supplements and complex raw herb formulations, as well the differentiation of ephedrine-containing products that were derived from natural plant or synthetic sources, e.g., simply by visualizing the presence or absence of the enantiomeric pairs of (±) ephedrine and (±)- N-methylephedrine in the GC × GC chromatograms.

A protocol for designing comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography separation systems

In this paper a protocol is proposed for establishing suitable column dimensions (length and diameters), particle sizes, flow rates, and second-dimension injection volumes (i.e. loop sizes) in comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC). The chromatographer should select the maximum allowable first-dimension retention time, which is approximately equal to the overall analysis time. Also, (s)he should define the maximum allowable pressure in both dimensions and the (minimum) diameter of the first-dimension column. The proposed protocol provides design parameters corresponding to the ideal (theoretically optimal) conditions or to realistic practical conditions. The protocol also allowed us to study the implications of contemporary developments in LC, such as the use of high temperatures (implying reduced viscosities and increased diffusion coefficients), monolithic columns (implying smaller flow-resistance factors), and ultra-high-pressure LC. The combination of (reversed-phase or normal-phase) liquid chromatography with size-exclusion chromatography (LC × SEC) is frequently employed for analysing complex polymers. The proposed protocol is used to design a suitable LC × SEC system under realistic conditions. The results resemble the systems that have been designed and implemented by expert chromatographers, but they also indicate how current practice can be improved.

Effect of first-dimension column film thickness on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic separation

In comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), samples experience two-dimensional separation implemented by a modulator which helps preserve the first-dimension separation and facilitates the second-dimension separation by periodically collecting, focusing and launching the material from the primary column onto the secondary column with a different stationary phase. Column overloading in GC × GC is a considerable problem, aggravated by the fact that two columns are involved. Broad first-dimension peaks of an analyte help produce smaller fractions of the analyte in the second-dimension, reducing the chance of secondary column overloading. One of the means to generate broad peaks in the first-dimension is to use thick film primary columns. A series of primary columns of various film thickness were tested in the study, and the results indicate that when other conditions are kept constant, 1 μm film columns often provide better resolution in both first and second-dimension but at the expense of a much longer separation time; 0.1 μm is clearly inadequate for GC × GC separation; 0.5 and 0.25 μm film columns seem to be the best compromises.

Flow regime at ambient outlet pressure and its influence in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

With method development in one-dimensional GC already being a tedious task, developing GC × GC methods is even more laborious. The majority of the present GC × GC applications are derived from previously optimised 1D-GC methods, from which especially the carrier gas flow settings are copied. However, in view of the high pressure inside the first-dimension column (high flow resistance of the narrow-bore second-dimension column), diffusion in the first column is much slower than in 1D-GC. Proper optimisation of the column combination and the carrier gas flow can considerably improve separations in GC × GC. To assist in the process of selecting column dimensions and flow rate optimization, we have developed a computer programme, based on Excel ®, that enables quick and simple calculation for all types of column combinations. The programme merely needs column dimensions and carrier gas type as input parameters and calculates all resolution and velocity parameters of the GC × GC separation by using flow rate and plate height equations. From the calculations a number of interesting conclusions can be drawn. As an example, the calculations clearly show that the majority of column combinations reported up till now have been operated at a far from optimal flow – and, consequently, a far from optimal resolution. Probably even more important is the conclusion that the majority of column combinations used so far, i.e. those with 100 μm I.D. second-dimension columns, are not necessarily the best choice for GC × GC.

Chiral comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron-capture detection applied to the analysis of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls in food samples

The feasibility of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC × GC–ECD) for the enantioseparation of chiral PCBs from other possible interfering compounds has been evaluated. Three commercially available enantioselective β-cyclodextrin-based capillary columns (Chirasil-Dex, BGB-172 and BGB-176SE) have been tested as first-dimension columns. Three non-enantioselective stationary phases (HT-8, BPX-50 and Supelcowax-10) were combined with the enantioselective columns to allow the unambiguous determination of the enantiomers of the target chiral PCBs. Each enantioselective first-dimension column tested was able to separate into enantiomers different PCB congeners, but in all cases, the use of Supelcowax-10 as second-dimension column provided the most satisfactory results. The Chirasil-Dex × Supelcowax-10 column combination allowed the determination of the enantiomeric fraction (EF) of PCBs 84, 91, 95, 132, 136, 149, 174 and 176 in the working standard solution, while that of congener 135 was hindered. The BGB-172 × Supelcowax-10 column set allowed a proper EF determination of congeners 45, 84, 131, 132, 135, 171, 174 and 183, while that of PCB 91 was interfered with co-elutants. The column combination BGB-176SE × Supelcowax-10 allowed the determination of all congeners that this enantioselective stationary phase was able to separate into enantiomers, i.e. PCBs 45, 91, 95, 136, 149 and 176. These column combinations have also been evaluated for the simultaneous determination of the 12 congeners with a toxic equivalency factor assigned by the WHO (PCBs 77, 81, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 156, 157, 167, 169, 189) and the seven indicator congeners (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180), and evaluated for the analysis of food samples.

Enantiomeric separation of chiral polychlorinated biphenyls on β-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.

Separation of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) with electron-capture detection (ECD) has been optimized for the separation of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, with emphasis on the selection of the first- and second-dimension, commercially available, columns. When eight second-dimension columns were subsequently combined with a 100% methylpolysiloxane stationary phase (DB-1) in the first dimension to create orthogonal conditions, a complete separation of all congeners with different TEF values was obtained with two column combinations, DB-1 × VF-23 and DB-1 × LC-50. When other types of first-dimension columns were used (and orthogonality was partly sacrificed), a DB-XLB column combined with 007-65HT, VF-23 and LC-50 was found to provide a complete separation of all 29 priority congeners. Next, the potential of these three column combinations for real-life analysis was preliminarily studied. With a spiked and fractionated milk extract, DB-XLB × LC-50 was found to be the most powerful column combination, because of the good separation of the 29 priority congeners from each other as well as from the matrix constituents. Quantitative performance (close to three-order linearity; LODs, 30–150 fg injected; R.S.D.s, 1.5–6.5% ( n=10)) was satisfactory.

Determination of atropisomeric and planar polychlorinated biphenyls, their enantiomeric fractions and tissue distribution in grey seals using comprehensive 2D gas chromatography

High prevalence of uterine occlusions and sterility is found among Baltic ringed and grey seal. Polychlorinated biphenyls (CBs) are suspected to be the main cause. The CB concentrations are higher in affected than in healthy animals, but the natural variation is considerable. Thus, it might be possible to assess the health status of seals by CB analysis. The ratios of chiral compounds (enantiomeric fractions (EFs)) such as atropisomeric CBs are of particular interest, since these may reflect differences in metabolic rates. An analytical procedure was developed and used to determine the levels of atropisomeric CBs, planar-CBs (WHO-PCBs) and total CBs in seals of different health status. Comprehensive 2D gas chromatography (GC×GC) was used to separate the target analytes from other CBs and interferences and a micro electron-capture detector (μECD) was used for detection. EFs of the atropisomeric CBs were difficult to determine as the levels were low and the interferences many. Two column combinations had to be used to avoid biased results—both had a chiral column as first-dimension column. The second-dimension column was coated with either a high-polarity cyanopropyl or a liquid crystal phase. EFs were determined for five atropisomeric CBs, i.e. CBs 91, 95, 132, 149 and 174. The results were verified by GC×GC–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). Some atropisomeric CBs had EFs that deviated strongly from the racemic-mixture value. The deviations were larger in liver than blubber, which indicates enantioselective metabolism. However, there was no selective passage of the studied atropisomeric CBs across placenta and no selective blood–brain barrier. Similarly, no correlation between EFs and health status was observed, although there was a correlation between the total CB levels and health status.

Semi-rotating cryogenic modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

A laboratory-made cryogenic modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) was constructed and evaluated. Analytes were trapped with carbon dioxide and desorbed with heated GC oven air. The GCxGC system included a non-polar first-dimension column and a semi-polar second-dimension column connected to a flame ionisation detector. A laboratory-written Matlab-based program was used for the data analysis. Peak widths at half height for n-alkanes, obtained with use of new modulator, were at narrowest 60 ms.

Single-jet, single-stage cryogenic modulator for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC).

A simple, single-stage CO2 jet modulator has been designed, which cools only a single, ca. 10 mm long section of the front part of the second-dimension column of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic (GC x GC) system. Direct heating by means of the GC oven air effects remobilization of the small fractions trapped upon eluting from the first-dimension column within a predetermined short period of time. Evaluation of the present modulator for the GC x GC separation of (very) polar flavour as well as non-polar compounds shows that the analytical performance of the single-stage modulator is closely similar to that of earlier reported, more complex, types of modulator.

Effects of temperature and flow regulated carbon dioxide cooling in longitudinally modulated cryogenic systems for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Two different modes of temperature regulation in longitudinally modulated cryogenic systems (LMCSs) for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) were compared. Carbon dioxide was used as coolant. In the first mode of operation, the temperature of the trap was regulated to a pre-set temperature using a digital temperature controller (“the constant temperature mode”). In the second, the temperature was regulated to a fixed negative offset to the oven temperature by using a constant flow of CO 2 (“the constant flow mode”). A number of problems were occasionally observed using the constant temperature mode: (1) severe band broadening of high boiling analytes in the second dimension; (2) non-Gaussian reconstructed first-dimension peak profiles; (3) high background due to modulation of first-dimension column bleed. It was concluded that these problems were associated with inefficient solute remobilization at low LMCS trap temperatures (1 and 2) or large trap temperature fluctuations (3). These problems could be avoided or significantly reduced by using the constant flow mode. Best results were obtained as the trap temperature was kept about 70 °C below the oven temperature.

Simple, non-moving modulation interface for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

A simple, non-moving dual-stage CO2 jet modulator is described, which cools two short sections of the front end of the second-dimension column of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatograph. A stream of expanding CO2 is sprayed directly onto this capillary column to trap small fractions eluting from the first-dimension column. Remobilization of the trapped analytes is performed by direct heating by the GC oven air. Installation, maintenance and control of the modulator is simple. Focusing and remobilization of the fractions is a very efficient process, as the bandwidths of the re-injected pulses are less than 10 ms. As a result, alkane peaks eluting from the second-dimension column have peakwidths at the baseline of only 120 ms.

Quantitative Determination of BTEX and Total Aromatic Compounds in Gasoline by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography (GC×GC)

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) has been applied to the quantitative analysis of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), and all heavier aromatic compounds in gasoline. The two-dimensional chromatographic separation used volatility selection on the first-dimension column and polarity selection on the second-dimension column. In the resulting GC×GC chromatogram, aromatic species were resolved from other compound classes. Moreover, structurally related aromatics were grouped in a manner that facilitated identification and integration. The response of a flame ionization detector to each major aromatic group in gasoline was calibrated using internal standards. Quantitation produced results directly comparable with ASTM standard methods. The present GC×GC method can be expanded to analyze other gasoline components.

5548528 Virtual continuous emission monitoring system : Keeler James; Havener John; Godbole Devendra; Ferguson Ralph Austin, TX, United States assigned to Pavilion Technologies

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) with electron-capture detection (ECD) has been optimized for the separation of seventeen 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, with emphasis on the selection of the first- and second-dimension, commercially available, columns. When eight second-dimension columns were subsequently combined with a 100% methylpolysiloxane stationary phase (DB-1) in the first dimension to create orthogonal conditions, a complete separation of all congeners with different TEF values was obtained with two column combinations, DB-1 × VF-23 and DB-1 × LC-50. When other types of first-dimension columns were used (and orthogonality was partly sacrificed), a DB-XLB column combined with 007-65HT, VF-23 and LC-50 was found to provide a complete separation of all 29 priority congeners. Next, the potential of these three column combinations for real-life analysis was preliminarily studied. With a spiked and fractionated milk extract, DB-XLB × LC-50 was found to be the most powerful column combination, because of the good separation of the 29 priority congeners from each other as well as from the matrix constituents. Quantitative performance (close to three-order linearity; LODs, 30–150 fg injected; R.S.D.s, 1.5–6.5% (n=10)) was satisfactory.