Optimisation of the GC-MS Conditions for the Determination of the 15 EU Foodstuff Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

European legislation has recently established a list of 15 priority PAHs to be monitores in foodstuff. Thus, the accurate determination of these compounds has become a highly relevant issue. The fact that some of these EU PAHs differ from those typically analysed, the so-called EPA PAHs, requires the re-evaluation of the instrumental conditions, including the selection of the capillary column, for the proper determination of the new target compounds. In this study, the influence of the stationary phase and dimensions of the GC capillary column on the chromatographic resolution of the 15 EU PAHs has been investigated. Apolar (DB-5 type) and medium polar (DB-17 type) stationary phases with different lengths and film thickness have been evaluated for the separation of the target compounds, with special emphasis on those coelutions involving isomers such as the 3 benzofluoranthene isomers included in the EU PAHs. In addition, the influence of the injection technique and the column dimensions on the recovery of the high molecular mass PAHs has been studied. A programmable temperature vaporizing (PTV) injector has been used in three different splitless operational modes and the results were compared to those obtained using on-column injection. The best results were obtained when a medium polar column (DB-17 type) with athin film thickness was used and the PTV injector was operated in its programmable temperature mode. The experimental parameters involved in the injection step were optimised by using the so-called "design of experiments".

RAMOS BORDAJANDI Luisa;  DABRIO RAMOS Marta;  ULBERTH Franz;  EMONS Hendrik; 

2008-06-04

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

JRC36312

1615-9306,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC36312,   

10.1002/jssc.200700562,