Endogenous n-Alkanes in Vegetable Oils: Validation of a Rapid Offline SPE-GC-FID Method, Comparison with Online LC-GC-FID and Potential for Olive Oil Quality Control.

The potential of endogenous n-alkane profiling for the assessment of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) adulteration (blends with cheaper vegetable oils) has been studied by relatively few authors. Analytical methods used for this purpose often involve tedious and solvent-intensive sample preparation prior to analytical determination, making them unattractive. A rapid and solvent-sparing offline solid phase extraction (SPE) gas chromatography (GC) flame ionization detection (FID) method for the determination of endogenous n-alkanes in vegetable oils was, therefore, optimized and validated. The optimized method demonstrated good performance characteristics in terms of linearity (R2 > 0.999), recovery (on average 94%), and repeatability (residual standard deviation, RSD < 11.9%). The results were comparable to those obtained with online high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-GC- FID ( RSD < 5.1%). As an example of an application to prove the potentiality of endogenous n-alkanes in revealing frauds, the data set obtained from 16 EVOO, 9 avocado oils (AVO), and 13 sunflower oils (SFO), purchased from the market, was subjected to statistical analysis and principal component analysis. Two powerful indices, namely (n-C29 + n-C31)/(n-C25 + n-C26) and n-C29/n-C25, were found to reveal the addition of 2% SFO in EVOO and 5% AVO in EVOO, respectively. Further studies are needed to confirm the validity of these promising indices.

Direct-immersion solid-phase microextraction coupled to fast gas chromatography mass spectrometry as a purification step for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons determination in olive oil.

The aim of the present work was to optimize a preparation step for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a fatty extract. Solid-phase microextraction is an easy preparation technique, which allows to minimize solvent consumption and reduce sample manipulation. A Carbopack Z/polydimethylsiloxane fiber, particularly suitable for extraction of planar compounds, was employed to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from a hexane solution obtained after a previous extraction with acetonitrile from oil, followed by a liquid-liquid partition between acetonitrile and hexane. The proposed method was a rapid and sensitive solution to reduce the interference of triglycerides saving the column life and avoiding frequent cleaning of the mass spectrometer ion source. Despite the non-quantitative extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from oil using acetonitrile, the signal-to-noise ratio was significantly improved obtaining a limit of detection largely below the performance criteria required by the European Union legislation.

Detailed elucidation of hydrocarbon contamination in food products by using solid-phase extraction and comprehensive gas chromatography with dual detection.

The present work is focused on the development/optimization of a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography method, with dual detection [flame ionization (FID) and mass spectrometric], for the simultaneous identification and quantification of mineral-oil contaminants in a variety of food products. The two main classes of contaminants, namely saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons, were previously fractionated on a manually-packed silver silica solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. The quantitative results were compared with those obtained by performing a large volume injection, in a GC-FID system, after the same SPE process and by an on-line liquid-gas chromatography method, with very similar results observed. The presence of a series of unknown compounds, that appeared when using the off-line methods, was investigated using the mass spectrometric data, and were tentatively-identified as esterified fatty acids, most probably derived from vegetable oil based ink.

A rapid multidimensional liquid-gas chromatography method for the analysis of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons in vegetable oils.

The present paper describes an investigation directed toward the development of a rapid heart-cutting LC-GC method for the analysis of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons contained in vegetable oils. The automated LC-GC experiments were carried out by using a system equipped with a syringe-type interface, capable of both heart-cutting and comprehensive (LC × GC) two-dimensional analysis. The first dimension separation was achieved on a 100 mm × 3 mm ID × 5 µm d(p) silica column, operated under isocratic conditions (hexane). A single 30-s cut, corresponding to a 175 µL volume, was transferred to a programmed temperature vaporizer. After the large volume injection, the target analytes were separated in a rapid manner (~9 min) using a 15 m × 0.1mm ID × 0.1 µm micro-bore GC capillary. The overall LC-GC run time enables the analysis of ca. 4 samples/hour. Quantification was performed by using external calibration, in the 1-200 mg/kg range. The method was validated in terms of linearity, precision, limits of detection and quantification, and accuracy. A series of commercial samples were subjected to analysis. Various degrees of contamination were found in all samples, in the 7.6-180.6 mg/kg range.

Characterization of the yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) volatile fraction using solid-phase microextraction-comprehensive 2-D GC-MS.

The present research is focused on the use of a solid-phase microextraction-comprehensive 2-D GC methodology, in the analysis of the volatile fraction of yerba mate. Yerba mate is used for the generation of a tea-like beverage, widely consumed in South America. A rapid-scanning quadrupole mass spectrometer (qMS), employed as a detection system and operated at a 25 Hz scanning frequency, supplied high-quality mass spectra. The effectiveness of the 3-D comprehensive 2-D GC-qMS experiment was compared to that of GC-qMS analysis on the same sample. Peak identification, in both applications, was achieved through MS library matching, with the support of linear retention index data. Apart from a great increase in the number of analytes separated (approx. by a factor of 5) and identified (approx. by a factor of 3.5), the comprehensive 2-D GC-qMS approach enabled the determination of a high number of hazardous contaminants (aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and plasticizers), barely visible in the GC-qMS analysis.

Rapid SPE-HPLC determination of the 16 European priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in olive oils.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large class of organic compounds. It has been established that the main source of exposure to these compounds for human beings is through food, particularly fats and oils, due to the lipophilic nature of these polycyclic compounds. The aim of this work was to optimise and validate a method involving SPE and HPLC for rapid determination of the 16 European Union (EU) priority PAHs (required by the Recommendation 2005/108/EC) in vegetable oils. Two spectrofluorometric detectors and a UV-Visible detector in series were used to identify and quantify the target compounds. Linearity, recoveries, LOD, and LOQ were found to be in agreement with the performance criteria for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) analysis as required by the Commission Directive 2005/10/EC, and satisfactory for all the compounds of interest, except for cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene, which presented a very low signal in the UV. Optimised chromatographic conditions for the separation of 25 PAHs, comprising both EPA and EU priority PAHs plus benzo[e]pyrene and benzo[b]chrysene, have been also proposed.

Rapid validated method for the analysis of benzo[a]pyrene in vegetable oils by using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A solid-phase microextraction method coupled with comprehensive gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils has recently been reported. The present paper tested the possibility to use the solid-phase microextraction method coupled with one-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the only benzo[a]pyrene. Furthermore, an in-house validation for benzo[a]pyrene, used as a marker, as requested by the European regulation no. 208/2005, was carried out. Statistical tests were performed to elaborate the data. Linearity was satisfactory (r(2)=0.999), between about 0.5 and 15 microg/kg. Detection limit and quantification limit were 0.17 and 0.46 microg/kg, respectively. In-day and inter-day repeatability were less than 6% in both cases.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in vegetable oils using solid-phase microextraction-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A simple and fast solid-phase microextraction method coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry was developed for analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in edible oil, performed directly in a hexane solution of the oil. Sampling conditions (solvent used, extraction time, extraction temperature and fiber rinsing time) were optimized by using a sample of oil fortified with a standard solution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The method was validated by calculating linear range, correlation coefficient, accuracy, repeatability, detection limit and quantification limit. The method was applied to several oils collected from the market and directly from an olive pomace extraction plant.

HPLC determination of free nitrogenous compounds of Centaurea solstitialis (Asteraceae), the cause of equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia.

Centaurea solstitialis (yellow star thistle) has been proven to cause equine nigropallidal encephalomalacia in horses. Over the last fifty years, nigropallidal encephalomalacia has been of interest to human medicine due to the possible connection with Parkinson's disease. Previous studies indicated the presence of neurotoxic nitrogenous compounds in polar extracts of the plant. In order to give a more detailed description of the nitrogen-containing fraction of C. solstitialis, various samples were collected at different development stages. Different aliquots of the same aqueous extract were directly derivatized with o-phthaldialdehyde and dansyl chloride and analyzed separately by reversed-phase HPLC. A complete profile of the free nitrogenous fraction of C. solstitialis was given and results obtained with the two derivatization procedures were compared. No particularly high level of free aspartic and glutamic acids, two potent neuroexcitotoxic amino acids, were found in polar extracts of the plant. Tyramine resulted to be the most important biologically active amine present in C. solstitialis (with a mean concentration of 2.0 mg/100 g of dry weight).