title: Characterization of lipids in complex samples using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
abstract: Most lipids are a complex mixture of classes of compounds such as fatty acids, fatty alcohols, diols, sterols and hydroxy acids. In this study, the suitability of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to a time-of-light mass spectrometer is studied for lipid characterization in complex samples. With lanolin, a refined wool wax, as test sample, it is demonstrated that combined methylation plus silylation is the preferred derivatization procedure to achieve (i) high-quality GC x GC separation and (ii) easily recognizable ordered structures in lipid analysis. Optimization of the GC x GC column combination, the influence of the temperature programme on the quality of the separation, and the potential and limitations of automated TOF-MS-based identification are discussed. The combined power of a 2D separation, ordered structures and MS detection is illustrated by the identification of several minor sample constituents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry IIQAB-CS, C, c/Jordi Girona No. 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. ejcqam@iiqab.csic.es
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jover
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adahchour
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bayona
authors.forename: René J J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Vreuls
authors.forename: Udo A Th
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Brinkman
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids