title: On-line combination of high performance liquid chromatography with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry: a proof of principle study.
abstract: The present contribution is focused on the on-line combination of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), cryogenically modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC), and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ MS), generating a very powerful unified separation-science tool. The instrument can be used in seven different combinations ranging from one-dimensional HPLC with a photodiode array detector to on-line LC × GC × GC/QqQ MS. The main focus of the present research is directed to the LC-GC × GC/QqQ MS configuration, with its analytical potential shown in a proof-of-principle study involving a very complex sample, namely, coal tar. Specifically, a normal-phase LC process enabled the separation of three classes of coal tar compounds: (1) nonaromatic hydrocarbons; (2) unsaturated compounds (with and without S); (3) oxygenated constituents. The HPLC fractions were transferred to the GC × GC instrument via a syringe-based interface mounted on an autosampler. Each fraction was subjected to a specific programmed temperature vaporizer GC × GC/QqQ MS untargeted or targeted analysis. For example, the coal tar S-containing compounds were pinpointed through multiple-reaction-monitoring analysis, while full-scan information was attained for the oxygenated constituents.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco e Prodotti per la Salute, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariosimone
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoccali
authors.forename: Peter Quinto
authors.initials: PQ
authors.lastname: Tranchida
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mondello
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003033:Coal Tar / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017601:Oxygen Compounds / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D017601:Oxygen Compounds; D003033:Coal Tar