Modern regulations emphasize analytical methods that can separate critical analyte pairs for identification and quantitation. To meet experimental separation goals and exceed regulatory requirements, new gas chromatography (GC) column selectivities are now essential.
In a recent webinar, Dr. Ramkumar Dhandapani, global product manager at Phenomenex, explored advances in GC column selectivities and provided method development tips to help solve challenging chromatographic separations. Dr. Dhandapani answered some questions and highlighted new analytical methods for analyzing dioxins, PCBs, and PAHs in challenging environmental and food matrices.
Q&A Discussion Summary:
My current analysis is 50 minutes long for PAHs. What are the parameters to consider for fast analysis?
RD: The primary optimization parameters that you might want to consider are the column dimensions. When you go for a smaller column ID, you get shorter runtimes. If you choose a shorter column dimension, make sure you have the same phase-volume ratio replicated on the shorter column dimension as well. For example, if you’re currently using a 30- or 60-meter column, use the same phase-volume ratio on a 10-meter column. Because of the smaller ID, you will get higher efficiency and you can cut the length of the analysis to half or less and get shorter runtimes. If you’re using a traditional 5MS type phase, go for a stationary phase that has the unique separation ability to recognize aromatics. The third aspect is also the carrier gas. If you go for hydrogen as a carrier gas, you get better, faster runtimes because of the kinetics of hydrogen as a carrier gas. Another piece of advice I would give is don’t settle on a method just by injecting the standards. When you are in the optimization process, especially for shorter runtimes, also introduce actual metrics to see how well the resolutions are on a shorter run providing column.
I’ve seen some scientists run two different methods for dioxins and PCBs. Why not run a single method?
RD: These are two different classes of compounds, and both in dioxins and furans, as well as in PCBs, there are critical pairs. If your column selectivity and your mass spec can resolve them and give you the optimal separation, then there’s no doubt we can do a single analysis. Sometimes I have also seen people use two methods but use a single column. One method would be optimized for the dioxin, which would have a longer runtime, while they would have a PCB with a shorter runtime on a single Phenomenex Zebron™ ZB-Dioxin column. Utilize the selectivity that gives you a good recognition of critical pairs, and then you can optimize both the methods on a single column. A big benefit you will see with using a single column or method is you will reduce the instrument downtime and you don’t have to switch columns between runs. Specifically with mass spectrometry, when you must vent down the mass spectrometer and then reinstall another column, it’s half a day compromised just for the switching.
Which liner style would you recommend for dioxin analysis?
RD: Many times, when we talk about critical separations, people think about columns, but the liner also has an equally important part. Specifically for GC, the first place where the sample meets the instrument is at the liner. It’s important to have a liner that is of premium deactivation, such as Zebron PLUS GC inlet liners, which are available in multiple geometries. Depending on the goal of the analysis, you could either choose a liner that has a larger internal volume, or you can go for a liner that has a narrow focusing effect and enhance the separation.
I had a customer that was working on a larger volume injection where the larger volume of the liner helped them send more sample into the column. While we also had another customer that had very efficient sample preparation. They had the analytes preconcentrated, and all they needed was a narrow-focused band onto the column. So, for them, we used a smaller internal diameter (ID) liner, a two-millimeter liner, which helped them enhance the peak focusing.
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This content is an extract from the Select Science Webinar Highlights “Utilizing New and Unique GC Column Selectivities for Optimal Separation of Dioxins, PCBs, and PAH in Environmental and Food Matrices” authored by Phenomenex and hosted in partnership with SelectScience®, a leading independent science publisher.
Resources
Food Testing Sample Preparation Guide
Unleash the Power of Fast GC PAH Analysis
Fast Separation of Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) using a Zebron™ ZB-Dioxin GC Column by GC-MS