Combined Gas Chromatography Research Articles

Adsorption performance with field emission scanning electron microscopy of fruit peel induced Silver Nanoparticles in C16H18ClN3S for waste water treatment

There is a growing demand for cost-effective and sustainable technologies for treating wastewater as water consumption increases and conventional technologies become more expensive. Nanoparticles have a great deal of potential for use in the treatment of waste water. Their unique surface area allows them to effectively remove toxic metal ions, pathogenic microorganisms, organic and inorganic solutes from water. This study investigated the potential of orange and banana peels as renewable nano adsorbents for removing dyes and dissolved organic compounds from textile wastewater. Orange and banana peels are an optimal selection due to their favourable chemical characteristics, namely the presence of cellulose, pectic, hemicellulose, and lignin. Their capacity to adsorb diverse anionic and cationic compounds on their surface-active sites is attributed to their unique functional group compositions. Silver nanoparticles are able to adsorb heavy metals due to their exceptionally low electrical and thermal resistance and surface plasmon resonance. The samples were thoroughly characterised using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Visible spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRD. The nanoparticles were prepared (10 gm,50 gm,100 gm) and subsequently introduced to the wastewater sample. The optical density values were recorded at various time points. The optical density values demonstrate a decline over the course of the experiment, with a notable decrease observed over time. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the efficacy of these natural adsorbents and their potential for sustainable water purification technologies. For the purpose of this research, high performance instrumentation methods were performed as follows:•Field emission scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology studies.•Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for analytical technique that combines gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify unknown substances or contaminants.•Optical density values were measured for different timings of degradation.

Determination of Anthropogenic Pollutants in Adipose Tissue of the Caspian Seal Pusa caspica Gmelin, 1788 by High-Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry.

Tissue contamination with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in organisms proved possible to comprehensively characterize in a single test by combining gas chromatography and high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry. Adipose tissue samples were collected from two Caspian seals (Pusa caspica Gmelin, 1788) found dead on the Caspian Sea shore in 2020. Organochlorine pesticides, primarily DDT and HCH, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were major pollutants found in the Caspian seals. The distribution of metabolites indicated the absence of recent pesticide use. The PCB content was relatively high, but still at the lower limit of the range of values determined previously, as was also the case with pesticides. Chlordanes, polychlorinated naphthalenes, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers were detected in minor quantities and were therefore not considered to be major pollutants of the Caspian seal. The pollutant levels were below a threshold at which a distinct effect on seal health can be expected. High-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) spectrometry was found to provide a convenient tool for both targeted and nontargeted analyses of a wide range of organic pollutants in a single experiment.

Suspect and non-target screening of chemicals of emerging Arctic concern in biota, air and human serum

Contaminants of emerging concern receive increasing attention in the Arctic environment. The aim of this study was to screen for chemicals of emerging Arctic concern (CEACs) in different types of Arctic samples including biota, air and human serum. We used a combination of gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for suspect and non-target screening (NTS). Suspect screening of 25 CEACs was based on published in-silico approaches for the identification of CEACs and revealed tetrabromophthalic anhydride (TBPA) in pilot whale and air, albeit with low detection frequencies (17 and 33%, respectively). An NTS workflow detected 49, 42, 31 and 30 compounds in pilot whale, ringed seal, air, and human serum, respectively, at confidence level 2 and 3. Although legacy POPs still dominated the samples, 64 CEACs were tentatively identified and further assessed for persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B), mobility (M), toxicity (T), and long-range transport potential (LRTP). While four PBT compounds were identified, 37 PMT substances dominated among these 64 compounds. Our study indicated that many chemicals of potential risk might be present in Arctic samples and would benefit from confirmation and further studies of their transport to and accumulation in the Arctic environment.

Antimicrobial treatments with chitosan microencapsulated angelica (Angelica archangelica) and marsh Labrador tea (Rhododendron tomentosum) supercritical CO2 extracts in linen-cotton jacquard woven textiles

In this study antimicrobial linen-cotton jacquard textiles were manufactured using green chemistry methods. The functionalization of the fabrics was executed by impregnating chitosan microencapsulated bio-based oils from angelica ( Angelica archangelica L.) (AAC) and marsh Labrador tea ( Rhododendron tomentosum Harmaja) (MLTC) obtained with pilot scale supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. The chemical compositions of the extracts of angelica and marsh Labrador tea were analyzed by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts, AAC and MLTC microcapsules, and the microencapsulated textiles (AAC and MLTC textiles) were analyzed against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria, dimorphic yeast Candida albicans and filamentous mold Aspergillus brasiliensis. The AAC textile proved 40% inhibition against S. aureus, whereas the MLTC textile demonstrated 43.8% and 51.7% inhibition against both S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. Although the chitosan shell material itself indicated mild activity against both bacterial strains, the extracts increased the antibacterial activities in microencapsulated textiles. In addition, the antifungal impact of the MLTC textile was demonstrated against A. brasiliensis. According to the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection and field emission scanning electron microscopy analyses, covalent bonding between the microcapsules and textile fibers was established with citric acid as a cross-linker. The antimicrobial activity was also shown to persist in the MLTC textiles after six domestic washing cycles.

Screening of organic chemicals associated to virgin low-density polyethylene microplastic pellets exposed to the Mediterranean Sea environment by combining gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this work, organic chemicals associated with microplastics (MPs) exposed to a coastal anthropogenized environment for up to eight weeks have been screened for, in order to discern the (de)sorption dynamics of chemicals in the marine ecosystem. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pellets were studied since they represent primary MPs used by the plastic industry and a relevant input of MPs into the oceans. To maximize the coverage of chemicals that could be detected, both liquid and gas chromatography coupled to quadrupole-time-of-flight (GC-QTOF and LC-QTOF, respectively) were used. In the case of LC-QTOF, an electrospray ionization source was employed, and the compounds were investigated by combining suspect and non-target screening workflows. The GC-QTOF was equipped with an electron ionization source and compounds were screened in raw and derivatized (silylated) extracts by deconvolution and contrast to high- and low-resolution libraries. A total of 50 compounds of multifarious classes were tentatively identified. Among them, melamine and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate (EHS) were detected in the original MPs but were rapidly desorbed. Melamine was completely released into the marine environment, while EHS was partly released but a portion remained bound to the MPs. On the other hand, many other chemicals of both anthropogenic (e.g. phenanthrene or benzophenone) and natural origin (e.g. betaine and several fatty acids) accumulated onto MPs over time. Quantification of 12 unequivocally identified chemicals resulted into a total concentration of 810 μg/kg after MPs exposure for 8 weeks.

Physicochemical, antibacterial and aromatic qualities of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora pall) tea with different varieties.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of five varieties on the quality of herbaceous peony tea by physicochemical analysis, sensory evaluation, antimicrobial capacity analysis and a combination of gas chromatography with quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF). Antibacterial and antioxidant analyses revealed that the ABTS free radical scavenging rate of HPT was high, ranging from 82.20% to 87.40% overall. 'Madame Claude Tain' had the strongest inhibitory ability against Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibitory effect of 12.65 mm. The sensory evaluation showed that 'Angel cheeks' had the highest overall sensory score. GC-QTOF combined with orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis showed that 22 volatile components were the key aroma components of herbaceous peony tea. Different varieties of herbaceous peony tea had a unique characteristic aroma. 'Angel cheeks' imparted lily-like and chestnut fragrances, which were attributed to linalool and 3,5-octadien-2-one. 'Sea Shell', 'Mother's Choice' and 'Angel Cheek' had a medicinal aroma, which may be due to the presence of o-cymene. Overall, 'Angel cheeks' was the most suitable for developing high-quality herbaceous peony tea in five varieties. This study provided a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the development of herbaceous peony.

Sample Preparation from Plant Tissue for Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)we.

Metabolites are intermediate products formed during metabolism. Metabolites play different roles, including providing energy, supporting structure, transmitting signals, catalyzing reactions, enhancing defense, and interacting with other species. Plant metabolomics research aims to detect precisely all metabolites found within tissues of plants through GC-MS. This chapter primarily focuses on extracting metabolites using chemicals such as methanol, chloroform, ribitol, MSTFA, and TMCS. The metabolic analysis method is frequently used according to the specific kind of sample or matrix being investigated and the analysis objective. Chromatography (LC, GC, and CE) with mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy is used in modern metabolomics to analyze metabolites from plant samples. The most frequently used method for metabolites analysis is the GC-MS. It is a powerful technique that combines gas chromatography's separation capabilities with mass spectrometry, offering detailed information, including structural identification of each metabolite. This chapter contains an easy-to-follow guide to extract plant-based metabolites. The current protocol provides all the information needed for extracting metabolites from a plant, precautions, and troubleshooting.

Predicting Bordeaux red wine origins and vintages from raw gas chromatograms

Connecting chemical properties to various wine characteristics is of great interest to the science of olfaction as well as the wine industry. We explored whether Bordeaux wine chemical identities and vintages (harvest year) can be inferred from a common and affordable chemical analysis, namely, a combination of gas chromatography (GC) and electron ionization mass spectrometry. Using 12 vintages (within the 1990–2007 range) from 7 estates of the Bordeaux region, we report that, remarkably, nonlinear dimensionality reduction techniques applied to raw gas chromatograms recover the geography of the Bordeaux region. Using machine learning, we found that we can not only recover the estate perfectly from gas chromatograms, but also the vintage with up to 50% accuracy. Interestingly, we observed that the entire chromatogram is informative with respect to geographic location and age, thus suggesting that the chemical identity of a wine is not defined by just a few molecules but is distributed over a large chemical spectrum. This study demonstrates the remarkable potential of GC analysis to explore fundamental questions about the origin and age of wine.

Analysis of Kazakhstan Crude Oil Biomarkers by Gas Chromatography in Combination with Mass Spectrometry

Kazakhstan ranks as the 12th largest oil producer globally and boasts a diverse range of crude oils. This research introduces a method for distinguishing between the different types of crude oils based on biomarker analysis of 28 crude oils from Western and Southern Kazakhstan using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Biomarkers serve as valuable tools, especially in forensic investigations of oil spills. These biomarkers effectively retain a significant portion of the original natural product’s carbon structure, providing crucial evidence regarding the origin and identity of the oils under examination. This study identifies a set of biomarkers, including pristine, phytane, n-C17 and n-C18 alkanes, hopanes, bisnorhopanes, iso-copalanes, pregnane, androstane, allopregnane, homopregnane, cholestane, and stigmastane. By examining ratios such as pristane/phytane, pristane/n-C17 alkane, tricyclic/pentacyclic terpanes, and hopane, as well as the distribution of steranes, it was deduced that crude oils from West Kazakhstan exhibited resilience to biodegradation. These findings showed that gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is an effective method for oil biomarkers determination, especially because it provides efficient separation and identification. Additionally, this study delved into the origin conditions and maturity of these oils, contributing to a deeper understanding of their characteristics and analysis that is simple to use and available worldwide.

Influence of ohmic heating on structure, texture and flavor of peanut protein isolate

The impacts of ohmic heating (OH) on the physical structure and volatile compounds of peanut protein (PP) were investigated for low denaturation plant-based meat ingredient using peanut protein isolate (PPI). The microstructure, texture, color, polar and weakly polar volatile compounds were characterized qualitatively and quantitatively using colorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, texture analysis, headspace solid-phase microextraction, DB-WAX and DB-5MS columns for separation, and combination of gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS). The principal component analysis and partial least square discrimination were applied to the results of the volatile compounds attribution. The results showed that OH treatments modified the second and tertiary structure of PP, improved the texture, caused either disappearance of indigenous compounds or emerging of new volatile compounds. OH could reduce off-flavor and increase pleasant compounds of PPI. The findings suggested that the OH is promising in vegetable protein structure and flavor improvement.

Analysis of organochlorine pesticides in contaminated soil by GC-MS/MS using accelerated solvent extraction as a green sample preparation

ABSTRACT Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), persistent organic pollutants, in the contaminated soil have been analysed by a gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) in this work. OCPs were extracted with a mixture of dichloromethane and n-hexane by using accelerated solvent extraction at elevated temperature and high pressure. The extractant was concentrated by a rotary vacuum evaporator and cleaned up by silica gel solid phase extraction. OCPs were then separated by a gas chromatography in combination with an electron impact ionisation MS in MS/MS mode. The limit of detection, limit of quantification and other important parameters of the GC-EI-MS/MS analytical method, such as repeatability, recovery and so on, have been investigated and presented. Limit of detection and limit of quantification have been achieved from 0.005 ng g−1 (p,p’-DDE) to 0.405 ng g−1 (dieldrin) and 0.016 ng g−1 to 1.216 ng g−1, respectively. The repeatability of this method was achieved below 8.3% and 13.7% for short- and long-term stability. Recovery of all OCPs ranged from 78.1% ± 1.5% to 117.5% ± 3.2%. The developed analytical method was validated by spiking experiments in the real samples. The validated method has been then used for the analysis of OCPs in the soil samples that were collected from the contaminated areas in Vietnam. Results showed the presence of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and p-p’-DDT in all analysed samples at elevated levels.

Analysis of PCDD/Fs in environmental samples by using gas chromatography in combination with high resolution mass spectrometry: optimization of sample preparation

ABSTRACT This study developed a simple, economical and time-saving clean-up procedure based on an in-house packed column system for the determination of the most toxic-relevant 17 PCDD (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin) and PCDF (polychlorinated dibenzofuran) congeners in environmental samples following accelerated solvent extraction. The extract solution was cleaned up using a manually packed column system consisting of a multi-layer silica gel column and an activated carbon column. After clean-up, dioxins and furans were analysed by using gas chromatography in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Isotopic labelled spiking experiments investigated the recovery of all dioxin and furan congeners. Then, the clean-up procedure for environmental samples was validated by applying the analysis of both clean soil reference material (CRM EDF-5183) and heavily contaminated sediment reference material (CRM EDF-5184) samples, as well as participating in the proficiency test (PT) for sediment samples. The recovery efficiency of isotope-labelled standard compounds in certified reference material (CRM) samples and PT samples ranged from 35% to 101% and between 46.1% and 105%, respectively. The mass concentrations of 17 PCDD/Fs in CRM samples were in the acceptable range. The absolute z-score value for each PCDD/F congener in the PT samples was below 1, confirming the analytical procedure’s high accuracy. The applied clean-up procedure in this study has demonstrated accuracy, repeatability and a significant increase in sample extraction/preparation productivity by reducing the time for sample preparation.

Alternating current electric field modifies structure and flavor of peanut proteins

The impacts of intensity and treating time of alternating current (AC) electric field (EF) on structure and volatile compounds of peanut protein were investigated for low denaturation. The secondary and tertiary structures, polar and weakly polar volatiles were characterized qualitatively and quantitatively using ultraviolet and fluorescence photospectrometry, free sulfhydryl and disulfide groups determination, and combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results showed that the ACEF affected significantly proportions of α-helices, β-sheets, β-turns, and random coils as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Blue shifts of UV and fluorescence spectra, increased surface hydrophobicity and disulfide bonds could be observed after ACEF treatments. The DB-WAX and DB-5MS columns for the polar and weakly polar volatile compound separation revealed that ACEF caused either disappearance or emerging of volatile compounds. The PCA demonstrated that the two principal components contributed about 70 % or more to the flavor and PLS-DA discriminated 18 key compounds.

Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography with Peak Tracking for Screening of Constituent Biodegradation in Petroleum UVCB Substances.

Petroleum substances, as archetypical UVCBs (substances of unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products, or biological substances), pose a challenge for chemical risk assessment as they contain hundreds to thousands of individual constituents. It is particularly challenging to determine the biodegradability of petroleum substances since each constituent behaves differently. Testing the whole substance provides an average biodegradation, but it would be effectively impossible to obtain all constituents and test them individually. To overcome this challenge, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) in combination with advanced data-handling algorithms was applied to track and calculate degradation half-times (DT50s) of individual constituents in two dispersed middle distillate gas oils in seawater. By tracking >1000 peaks (representing ∼53-54% of the total mass across the entire chromatographic area), known biodegradation patterns of oil constituents were confirmed and extended to include many hundreds not currently investigated by traditional one-dimensional GC methods. Approximately 95% of the total tracked peak mass biodegraded after 64 days. By tracking the microbial community evolution, a correlation between the presence of functional microbial communities and the observed progression of DT50s between chemical classes was demonstrated. This approach could be used to screen the persistence of GC × GC-amenable constituents of petroleum substance UVCBs.

Odour-mediated oviposition site selection in Aedes aegypti depends on aquatic stage and density

BackgroundOlfaction plays an important role in the selection and assessment of oviposition sites by mosquitoes. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with potential breeding sites affect the behaviour of gravid mosquitoes, with VOCs from aquatic stages of conspecific mosquitoes influencing and regulating oviposition. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic analysis of the behavioural response of gravid Aedes aegypti to conspecific aquatic stage-conditioned water, to identify the associated bioactive VOCs and to determine how blends of these VOCs regulate oviposition site selection and stimulate egg-laying.MethodsUsing a multi-choice olfactory oviposition assay, controlling for other sensory modalities, the responses of individual females to water conditioned with different densities of conspecific aquatic stages were assessed. The conditioned water samples from the most preferred density of each aquatic stage were subsequently compared to each other using the same oviposition assay and analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Tukey post-hoc test. Using combined gas chromatography and electroantennographic detection or mass spectrometry, bioactive VOCs from the preferred density of each aquatic stage were identified. Synthetic blends were prepared based on the identified ratios of bioactive VOCs in the aquatic stages, and then tested to determine the oviposition choice of Ae. aegypti in a dose-dependent manner, against a solvent control, using a dual-choice assay. This dataset was analysed using nominal logistic regression followed by an odds ratio comparison.ResultsGravid Ae. aegypti responded stage- and density-dependently to water conditioned with eggs, second- and fourth-instar larvae, and pupal exuviae, but not to water conditioned with pupae alone. Multi-choice assays demonstrated that gravid mosquitoes preferred to oviposit in water conditioned with fourth-instar larvae, over the other aquatic stage-conditioned water. Gravid Ae. aegypti were attracted, and generally stimulated, to oviposit in a dose-dependent manner to the individual identified synthetic odour blends for the different aquatic stages.ConclusionsIntraspecific VOCs regulate oviposition site selection in Ae. aegypti in a stage- and density-dependent manner. We discuss the need for further studies to evaluate the identified synthetic blends to modulate the odour-mediated oviposition of Ae. aegypti under field conditions.Graphical

Influence of structural transformation on guest exchange behavior in the sII hydrate – (CO2 + N2) replacement for energy recovery and CO2 sequestration

In this study, the guest exchange behavior in the sII (CH4 + C3H8) hydrate – (CO2 + N2) replacement at various CO2 concentrations was experimentally investigated to elucidate the influence of the structural transformation of the initial sII hydrate on the replacement efficiency at different feed gas compositions and injecting pressures. The extent of replacement, structural identification, and cage occupancy of guest molecules in the replaced hydrates were determined by a combination of gas chromatography (GC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The experimental results demonstrated that injecting feed gas with higher CO2 concentrations (%CO2) at a higher partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) resulted in a higher weight fraction of sI hydrates (a greater degree of structural transformation from sII to sI) after replacement and consequently, higher replacement efficiency. The newly formed sI hydrates after replacement were primarily composed of CO2 and N2. The guest-inclusion behavior in the small (512) cages of the sII hydrates after replacement, as revealed by Rietveld refinement of the PXRD patterns, had a dominant influence on the total CO2/N2 ratios in the replaced hydrates. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the guest exchange mechanism occurring in sII hydrates during flue gas injection and can aid in estimating the optimal compositions of flue gas for energy recovery and CO2 sequestration through guest replacement in natural gas hydrates.

Characterization of volatile metabolites in Pu-erh teas with different storage years by combining GC-E-Nose, GC-MS, and GC-IMS.

Storage time is one of the important factors affecting the aroma quality of Pu-erh tea. In this study, the dynamic changes of volatile profiles of Pu-erh teas stored for different years were investigated by combining gas chromatography electronic nose (GC-E-Nose), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). GC-E-Nose combined with partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) realized the rapid discrimination of Pu-erh tea with different storage time (R2Y=0.992, Q2=0.968). There were 43 and 91 volatile compounds identified by GC-MS and GC-IMS, respectively. A satisfactory discrimination (R2Y=0.991, and Q2=0.966) was achieved by using PLS-DA based on the volatile fingerprints of GC-IMS. Moreover, according to the multivariate analysis of VIP>1.2 and univariate analysis of p<0.05, 9 volatile components such as linalool and (E)-2-hexenal were selected as key variables to distinguish Pu-erh teas with different storage years. The results provide theoretical support for the quality control of Pu-erh tea.

Structural Elucidation and Quantification of Triacylglycerides in Flaxseed Oil on Skin Surfaces

Flaxseed oil is a popular natural ingredient in cosmetics due to its proven nutritional and skin health benefits. It has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities when deposited effectively on the skin surface. However, the complexity of triacylglyceride structures in flaxseed oil has made it difficult to fully characterize them. To address this issue, a new method was developed that combined gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry to identify a chemical marker of flaxseed oil that can be used to quantify its deposition on skin. This method was applied to study the deposition differences on pig and human skins. The use of flaxseed oil in skincare products, in combination with a cationic polymer, has been demonstrated to be effective in improving skin health.

Integrated Analysis by GC/MS and 13C NMR of Moroccan Cladanthus mixtus Essential Oil; Identification of Uncommon Epoxyfarnesanes

Cladanthus mixtus (L.) Chevall., Asteraceae, also known as Moroccan chamomile, is a spontaneous, annual plant growing wild in North-Western Morocco. Economically, the essential oil of C. mixtus is of high interest, Morocco being the only supplier on the international market. Two essential oil samples (EO) were isolated from aerial parts of Cladanthus mixtus (L.) Chevall., and analyzed by a combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques (gas chromatography (GC) in combination with retention indices (RI), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and 13C NMR spectroscopy). Computer matching against the in-house 13C NMR library allowed the identification of the eight components at appreciable contents, namely 3,6,6,9-bis-epoxy-farnesa-1,7(14),10-triene, and its 3-epi, 9-epi, and 3,9-diepi epimers, and 6,9-epoxy-farnesa-1,7(14),10-trien-3-ol and its 3-epi, 6-epi, and 3,6-diepi epimers. Our results confirm the tremendous chemical variability of Moroccan C. mixtus essential oil and the usefulness of 13C NMR analysis, in combination with GC(RI), for the identification of uncommon oxygenated sesquiterpenes that induce an original composition.

Untargeted Screening and Identification of Contaminants Using Gas Chromatography Coupled to High-Resolution Accurate Mass–Mass Spectrometry: Novel Solutions for Applied Testing Laboratories

The combination of gas chromatography (GC) instruments with quadrupole-based mass spectrometers is a common analytical setup for the detection of a broad range of volatile and semivolatile contaminants. GC–mass spectrometry (MS) (nominal mass) instruments are well known for their robustness and ease of use. However, they have some important limitations. Single quadrupole instruments can perform full scan analysis, but their sensitivity and selectivity in this mode are limited. Triple quadrupole (GC–MS/MS) systems are limited to a targeted acquisition within a specified compound list. High-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry can overcome these limitations.