title: Gas chromatography fractionation platform featuring parallel flame-ionization detection and continuous high-resolution analyte collection in 384-well plates.
abstract: Gas chromatography (GC) is a superior separation technique for many compounds. However, fractionation of a GC eluate for analyte isolation and/or post-column off-line analysis is not straightforward, and existing platforms are limited in the number of fractions that can be collected. Moreover, aerosol formation may cause serious analyte losses. Previously, our group has developed a platform that resolved these limitations of GC fractionation by post-column infusion of a trap solvent prior to continuous small-volume fraction collection in a 96-wells plate (Pieke et al., 2013 [17]). Still, this GC fractionation set-up lacked a chemical detector for the on-line recording of chromatograms, and the introduction of trap solvent resulted in extensive peak broadening for late-eluting compounds. This paper reports advancements to the fractionation platform allowing flame ionization detection (FID) parallel to high-resolution collection of a full GC chromatograms in up to 384 nanofractions of 7s each. To this end, a post-column split was incorporated which directs part of the eluate towards FID. Furthermore, a solvent heating device was developed for stable delivery of preheated/vaporized trap solvent, which significantly reduced band broadening by post-column infusion. In order to achieve optimal analyte trapping, several solvents were tested at different flow rates. The repeatability of the optimized GC fraction collection process was assessed demonstrating the possibility of up-concentration of isolated analytes by repetitive analyses of the same sample. The feasibility of the improved GC fractionation platform for bioactivity screening of toxic compounds was studied by the analysis of a mixture of test pesticides, which after fractionation were subjected to a post-column acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assay. Fractions showing AChE inhibition could be unambiguously correlated with peaks from the parallel-recorded FID chromatogram.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jonker
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clarijs
authors.affiliation: Da Vinci Laboratory Solutions B.V., Caïrostraat 10, 3047 BC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Susannah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: de Witte
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Velzen
authors.affiliation: Da Vinci Laboratory Solutions B.V., Caïrostraat 10, 3047 BC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sjaak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Koning
authors.affiliation: Da Vinci Laboratory Solutions B.V., Caïrostraat 10, 3047 BC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaap
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Govert W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Somsen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.kool@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kool
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis; D005410:Flame Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010575:Pesticides; D012997:Solvents; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: 384-well plate; Fraction collection; Gas chromatography; High-resolution fractionation; Parallel FID