Optimized use of a 50 μm ID secondary column in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Spatial variations in the occurrence of potentially genotoxic disinfection by-products in drinking water distribution systems in China

We investigated the occurrence of disinfection by-products (DBPs) with genotoxic potential in plant effluent and distribution water samples from four drinking water treatment plants in two Chinese cities using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-quadrupole mass spectrometry. We tested the samples for 37 DBPs with genotoxic potential, which we had previously identified and prioritized in water under controlled laboratory conditions. Thirty of these DBPs were found in the water samples at detection frequencies of between 10% and 100%, and at concentrations between 3.90 and 1.77 × 10³ ng/L. Of the DBPs detected, the concentrations of 1,1,1-trichloropropan-2-one were highest, and ranged from 299 to 1.77 × 10³ ng/L with an average of 796 ng/L. The concentrations of 6-chloro-2-N-propan-2-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine and 2,6-ditert-butylcyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione were also much higher, and ranged from 107 to 721 ng/L, and from 152 to 504 ng/L, respectively. Concentrations of 1,1,1-trichloropropan-2-one, 2-chloro-1-phenylethanone, 2,2-dichloro-1-phenylethanone and 6-chloro-2-N-propan-2-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine were highest at or near the treatment plants and decreased with increasing distance from the plants. Patterns in the concentrations of benzaldehyde, 2-phenylpropan-2-ol, and 1-methylnaphthalene differed between plants. The levels of DBPs such as 4-ethylbenzaldehyde, (E)-non-2-enal, and 1-phenylethanone were relatively constant within the distribution systems, even at the furthest sampling points (20 km < d < 30 km). A risk assessment showed that there was no risk to human health. It is, however, important to note that, because of limited availability of toxicity data, only five DBPs were evaluated in this study. The risks to health associated with exposure to the target potentially genotoxic DBPs should not be ignored because of their prolonged existence in drinking water.

Determination of aromatic amines in human urine using comprehensive multi-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCxGC-qMS)

Aromatic amines are an important class of harmful components of cigarette smoke. Nevertheless, only few of them have been reported to occur in urine, which raises questions on the fate of these compounds in the human body. Here we report on the results of a new analytical method, in situ derivatization solid phase microextraction (SPME) multi-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCxGC-qMS), that allows for a comprehensive fingerprint analysis of the substance class in complex matrices. Due to the high polarity of amino compounds, the complex urine matrix and prevalence of conjugated anilines, pretreatment steps such as acidic hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and derivatization of amines to their corresponding aromatic iodine compounds are necessary. Prior to detection, the derivatives were enriched by headspace SPME with the extraction efficiency of the SPME fiber ranging between 65 % and 85 %. The measurements were carried out in full scan mode with conservatively estimated limits of detection (LOD) in the range of several ng/L and relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 20 %. More than 150 aromatic amines have been identified in the urine of a smoking person, including alkylated and halogenated amines as well as substituted naphthylamines. Also in the urine of a non-smoker, a number of aromatic amines have been identified, which suggests that the detection of biomarkers in urine samples using a more comprehensive analysis as detailed in this report may be essential to complement the approach of the use of classic biomarkers.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography under high outlet pressure conditions: a new approach to correct the flow-mismatch issue in the two dimensions

The typical column sets employed in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) suffer from the impossibility to fully exploit the efficiency of both dimensions simultaneously. Adding a restrictor at the end of the second dimension is a possible approach to adjust the linear velocity profile. Under these high outlet pressure conditions the second dimension becomes much slower while the effect on the primary column is limited. The gap in terms of optimum inlet pressures is thus reduced. A program written in Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the efficiencies of the two dimensions in GC × GC at different outlet pressures. A GC × GC set-up with a restrictor at the end of the second dimension column was successfully installed. Experiments proved that this is a possible way to have a better exploitation of the columns. The chromatograms obtained for a number of applications confirm that the separations achieved at elevated outlet pressure are more efficient than those obtained with the same column set under atmospheric outlet conditions. The price to pay is that the separations become considerably slower.

Measurement of fundamental chromatography parameters in conventional and split-flow comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: A focus on the importance of second-dimension injection efficiency

The present manuscript reports a comparative study between conventional and split-flow comprehensive GC×GC-MS. Conventional GC×GC-MS was performed by using a single GC oven, and with a widely employed apolar (30 m × 0.25 mm id)-polar (1 m × 0.10 mm id) column combination. Split-flow GC×GC-MS experiments were carried out by using the same first and second analytical columns, and by diverting part of the primary-capillary flow to waste, via a waste line. The latter was located at the conjunction point between the two dimensions. The measurement of fundamental gas chromatography parameters (efficiency, resolution), in both dimensions and under different experimental conditions, enabled the attainment of detailed information related to GC×GC-MS method optimization. Finally, the results derived from the present investigation highlight an important GC×GC issue, namely the efficiency of band reinjection onto the second-dimension capillary.