title: Flow-modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with a vacuum ultraviolet detector for the analysis of complex mixtures.
abstract: The present paper is focused on the use of a vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectrometer (VUV) for gas chromatography (GC), within the context of flow modulated comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (FM GC×GC). The features of the VUV detector were evaluated through the analysis of petrochemical and fatty acids samples. Besides responding in a predictable fashion via Beer's law principles, the detector provides additional spectroscopic information for qualitative analysis. Virtually all chemical species absorb and have unique gas phase absorption features in the 120-240nm wavelength range monitored. The VUV detector can acquire up to 90 full range absorption spectra per second, allowing its coupling with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography. This recent form of detection can address specific limitations related to mass spectrometry (e.g., identification of isobaric and isomeric species with very similar mass spectra or labile chemical compounds), and it is also able to deconvolute co-eluting peaks. Moreover, it is possible to exploit a pseudo-absolute quantitation of analytes based on pre-recorded absorption cross-sections for target analytes, without the need for traditional calibration. Using this and the other features of the detector, particular attention was devoted to the suitability of the FM GC×GC-VUV system toward qualitative and quantitative analysis of bio-diesel fuel and different kinds of fatty acids. Satisfactory results were obtained in terms of tailing factor (1.1), asymmetry factor (1.1), and similarity (average value 97%), for the FAMEs mixtures analysis.
authors.affiliation: Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali", University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariosimone
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoccali
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019-0065, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schug
authors.affiliation: VUV Analytics, Inc.,Cedar Park, TX 78613, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: VUV Analytics, Inc.,Cedar Park, TX 78613, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smuts
authors.affiliation: Chromaleont s.r.l., c/o Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali", University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; "Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali", University of Messina, Polo Annunziata, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; Università Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: lmondello@unime.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mondello
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D056804:Biofuels / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D007536:Isomerism; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography; Flow modulation; Method optimization; Pseudo-absolute quantification; Vacuum ultraviolet detector