title: Heart-cutting two-dimensional gas chromatography in combination with isotope ratio mass spectrometry for the characterization of the wax fraction in plant material.
abstract: Gas chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry after on-line combustion (GC-C-IRMS) and high temperature conversion (GC-HTC-IRMS) is used for compound specific isotope ratio determination. This determination can only be performed successfully if the target solutes are fully resolved from other compounds. A new instrumental set-up consisting of heart-cutting two-dimensional GC based on capillary flow technology and a low thermal mass GC oven in combination with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer is presented. Capillary flow technology was also used in all column and interface connections for robust and leak-free operation. The new configuration was applied to the characterization of wax compounds in tobacco leaf and corresponding smoke samples. It is demonstrated that high accuracy is obtained, both in the determination of δ(13)C and δ(2)H values, allowing the study of biosynthesis and delivery mechanisms of naturally occurring compounds in tobacco.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Chromatography, President Kennedypark 26, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: emmie.dumont@richrom.com.
authors.forename: Emmie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tienpont
authors.forename: Nobukazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitsui
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Hirooki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sandra
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012906:Smoke / Q000032:analysis; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000737:chemistry; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012906:Smoke; D014885:Waxes
keywords: Capillary flow technology; Deans switch; Isotope ratio mass spectrometry; Multidimensional GC; Plant material