Biomedical subjects

Robert Shellie

Publications and source records attributed to Robert Shellie.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Rapid sequential heart-cut multidimensional gas chromatographic analysis.

A method is described which allows the sequential fast analysis of heart-cuts taken during the first column elution of an essential oil sample in a multidimensional gas chromatography experiment. In this investigation, a relatively short, narrow bore capillary column is used in the second dimension, with fast cryogenic modulation permitting rapid delivery of cryofocussed heart-cuts into the second column of the multidimensional arrangement. In this implementation, the total analysis time on the second column is of the order of 30 s, which is less than the duration of the sampled heart-cuts (1 min), with peak theoretical efficiencies of about 7000 m(-1). Thus, the method should allow on-line heart-cutting of as many discrete heart-cuts as one may require from the first dimension chromatogram, and so two-dimensional separation can be achieved for almost the whole sample in one single analysis without the need for repeat injections or cycling of the oven temperature. The method is demonstrated by the transfer and rapid re-injection of 1 min heart-cuts taken from an initial separation stage of peppermint essential oil. The cryofocussing and fast analysis step is shown to increase signal response by up to 40-fold. Total peak capacity in the described system is measured to be of the order of 1800, with capacities of about 20-30 for each 30 s second dimension analysis. By increasing the frequency of sampling to remove excessive (unused) time to develop the 2D separation, it should be possible to achieve peak capacities of 5000 or more baseline resolved peaks.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2004

Analysis of roasted coffee bean volatiles by using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The volatile headspace from two coffee bean varieties, namely Arabica (Coffea arabica) and Robusta (Coffea canephora ex Froehner), were sampled by using solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and then analysed with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography interfaced to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (GC x GC-TOFMS). Two distinct column set combinations were investigated--an apolar-polar and polar-apolar configuration--and the separation achieved from each set was compared. Results were compared with a previous literature report for coffee analysed by GC x GC-FID, using an analogous polar-apolar column set combination, where authentic standards were used to confirm the position of the selected components in the 2D separation space. The present study provides independent mass spectral confirmation of component identity, and demonstrates that the relative, structured position of these components is comparable in the two experiments. Total ion current (TIC) chromatograms were processed using ChromaTOF automated data processing software. It was necessary to restrict the number of processed peaks to 1000 (S/N > 100), which required approximately 8 h for processing. Extracted ion chromatograms were generated using prominent fragment ions, and unique masses, to aid in analyte identification process, and was particularly useful in instances of component peak overlap, and for the identification of pyrazine analytes (e.g. 44, 88, 122 u). Semi-quantitative analysis was restricted to the 44 selcted components; however, the omission of peaks with S/N < 100, limiting the processed peaks to 1000, reduced the semi-quantitative application of the GC x GC-TOFMS method developed. Finally, results gained from GC x GC-TOFMS and GC x GC-qMS analyses were comparable with respect to spectral similarity assignments for the 44 target analytes.

Coffee↗

PubMed2004

Molecular interconversion behaviour in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) is shown to provide information on dynamic molecular behaviour (interconversion), with the interconversion process occurring on both columns in the coupled-column experiment. The experiment requires suitable adjustment of both experimental conditions and relative dimensions of each of the columns. In this case, a longer column than normally employed in GC x GC allows sufficient retention duration on the second column, which permits the typical plateau-shape recognised for the interconversion process to be observed. The extent of interconversion depends on prevailing temperature, retention time, and the phase type. Polyethylene glycol-based phases were found to result in high interconversion kinetics, although terephthalic acid-terminated polyethylene glycol had a lesser extent of interconversion. Much less interconversion was seen for phenyl-methylpolysiloxane and cyclodextrin phases. This suggests that for the oximes, interconversion largely occurs in the stationary phase. Examples of different extents of interconversion in both dimensions are shown, including peak coalescence on the first column with little interconversion on the second column.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2004

Ultra-fast essential oil characterization by capillary GC on a 50 microm ID column.

A 5 m x 50 microm capillary column with 0.05 microm stationary phase film thickness, with a calculated efficiency of almost 20,000 plates per metre (under optimum conditions), was used for very fasthigh resolution GC analysis of lime essential oil. The total analysis time of this volatile essential oil was less than 90 s. Fast GC is shown to be appropriate for essential oil quality assurance analysis, and quantitative results of key components are comparable with those obtained by using conventional GC analysis. The fast GC analysis is approximately 33 times faster than the conventional GC method.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2004

Effects of pressure drop on absolute retention matching in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) analysis has the capability to resolve many more components of complex mixtures than traditional single column GC analysis. There is an increasing need to provide reliable identification of these separated components; time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) is the most appropriate technology to achieve this task. Rather than require MS for all GC x GC separations, it is desirable to assign peak identities to specific peak positions in the GC x GC separation space, and this necessitates matching peak retentions in the two experiments - GC x GC-FID and GC x GC-TOFMS. The atmospheric vs. vacuum outlet conditions confound this task. It is shown here that by employing a supplementary gas supply, provided to a T-union between the column outlet and the MS interface, it is possible to generate 2D chromatograms for GC x GC-FID and GC x GC-TOFMS that are essentially exactly matched. There is no degradation in separation performance or efficiency in the second column in the system interfaced to the T-union. Since the GC x GC-FID experiment uses hydrogen for maximum efficiency, and GC x GC-TOFMS uses helium carrier, translation of (conditions/retentions) must account for the different viscosities of the carrier gases. Translation of conditions is based on well-known principles established in single column analysis. Tabulated data illustrate that retention reproducibility was of the order of better than 4 s for the average first dimension retention difference, and about 40 ms for the average second dimension retention difference when comparing GC x GC-FID and GC x GC-TOFMS results. This should provide considerable support for identification in routine GC x GC-FID analysis of specific sample types, once the peaks in 2D separation space have been assigned identities through GC x GC-TOFMS analysis.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2004

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection: qualitative and quantitative analysis of West Australian sandalwood oil.

The use of gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS), GC-time-of-flight MS (TOFMS), comprehensive two-dimensional GC (GCxGC)-flame ionization detection (FID), and GCxGC-TOFMS is discussed for the characterization of the eight important representative components, including Z-alpha-santalol, epi-alpha-bisabolol, Z-alpha-trans-bergamotol, epi-beta-santalol, Z-beta-santalol, E,E-farnesol, Z-nuciferol, and Z-lanceol, in the oil of west Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum). Single-column GC-MS lacks the resolving power to separate all of the listed components as pure peaks and allow precise analytical measurement of individual component abundances. With enhanced peak resolution capabilities in GCxGC, these components are sufficiently well resolved to be quantitated using flame ionization detection, following initial characterization of components by using GCxGC-TOFMS.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed2003

Retention time reproducibility in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography using cryogenic modulation. II. An interlaboratory study.

An interlaboratory survey was conducted to determine the reproducibility of retention times in both the first (1D) and second dimension (2D) axes of the two-dimensional separation space, using the longitudinal cryogenic modulation comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic approach. Intralaboratory reproducibility has been demonstrated in part 1 of this investigation [J. Chromatogr. A 968 (2002) 161]. Confidence in absolute retention times (hence component positions) in the two-dimensional separation space is critical to component identification. Comparing data from four independent laboratories, five independent gas chromatographs, five independent LMCS units, and numerous operators has determined that the LMCS cryogenic modulation approach provides reliable comprehensive two-dimensional GC results.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2003

Targeted multidimensional gas chromatography using microswitching and cryogenic modulation.

A new method is described that allows fast target analysis in multidimensional gas chromatography by using a microswitching valve between two GC columns, with cryogenic trapping and rapid re-injection of trapped solutes in the second dimension. The essence of the procedure is that heart-cut fractions from the first column (1D) can be selectively transferred to column 2 (2D), where a moveable cryogenic trap first focuses the transferred solute(s) at the head of the second column and then permits their facile rapid analysis on 2D. Since 2D is a short narrow-bore column, which exhibits very fast analysis (on the order of a few seconds elution), peak responses (heights) are significantly enhanced (by up to 40-fold). Additionally, by using a 2D phase of a selectivity different from that used for 1D, it is possible to also separate components that are not resolved on the first column and to increase the resolution for other compounds. The heart-cut valve isolates the section(s) of solutes of interest from the first column separation, and this provides a considerable simplification to the chromatogram-in addition to the separation and sensitivity advantages. By using this method, multidimensional gas chromatography with multiple heart-cuts can be completed within the same time as the primary column separation. Since the described method permits non-heart-cut fractions to be transferred to a monitor detector, normal detection of these fractions is still permitted. By modulation of the cryotrap, it is also possible to achieve comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography for the heart-cut fractions; however, only those compounds passed to the second, separation column, which passes through the cryotrap, will be subjected to GC x GC analysis. The technique and the various modes of operation are described in this paper.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Simulation of elution profiles for two-dimensional dynamic gas chromatographic experiments.

The interconversion of E and Z isomers of acetaldoxime 1 and butyraldoxime 2 have been investigated by comprehensive two-dimensional dynamic gas chromatography (DGCxDGC) and computer simulation. Time-resolved cryogenic modulation is capable of revealing the precise isomeric ratio as a fine structure under the dynamic elution profile, which is characterized in one-dimensional experiments by a plateau formation or peak coalescence caused by interconversion of the isomers during the separation process. The chromatographic theoretical plate model has been extended for the computer simulation of comprehensive two-dimensional dynamic chromatographic experiments. A novel program, ChromWin 2D, based on the new algorithm has been developed for computer simulation to evaluate and predict the elution profiles of DGCxDGC experiments. ChromWin 2D allows the determination of rate constants and barriers of isomerization, epimerization, and enantiomerization processes occurring during chromatographic separations. The Eyring activation parameters of the E/Z and Z/E isomerization barriers in the presence of the stationary phase BP21 (poly(ethylene glycol) terephthalate terminated) were determined by temperature-dependent experiments between 80 and 90 degrees C for 1 and 70 and 130 degrees C for 2. The thermodynamic Gibbs free energy of the E/Z equilibrium of the isomers has been determined from the time-resolved chromatograms by cryogenic modulation. The method described here constitutes a new and important tool for the determination of isomerization barriers, which are of great interest, for example, for the quantitative determination of derivatized aldehydes, such as dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives, in trace analysis.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with fast enantioseparation.

The development of fast chiral analysis for use in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography in which a short second dimension enantioselective capillary column provides a route to precise measurement of chiral ratios of enantiomers is described. Retention times as short as 8 s are reported for (+/-)-limonene, with adequate enantioseparation maintained (Rs approximately 1.0) on a 1-m cyclodextrin derivative-coated capillary column. Sufficiently fast elution on the second column was achieved by using GC/ MS in which the subambient pressure (vacuum outlet) conditions promote increased diffusion coefficients and higher component volatility; a 4-fold reduction of second-dimension retention time was observed, as compared with ambient pressure outlet conditions. The enantiomeric distribution of several monoterpene compounds in bergamot essential oil is reported as a demonstration of the method. Total analysis time of the target components was approximately 8.5 min.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Characterisation of lavender essential oils by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with correlation of linear retention indices and comparison with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

Nine samples of lavender essential oil were analysed by GC-MS using low-polarity and polar capillary columns. Linear retention indices (LRI) were calculated for each component detected. Characterisation of the individual components making up the oils was performed with the use of an mass spectrometry (MS) library developed in-house. The MS library was designed to incorporate the chromatographic data in the form of linear retention indices. The MS search routine used linear retention indices as a post-search filter and identification of the "unknowns" was made more reliable as this approach provided two independent parameters on which the identification was based. Around 70% of the total number of components in each sample were reliably characterised. A total of 85 components were identified. Semi-quantitative analysis of the same nine samples was performed by gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionisation detection (FID). The identified components accounted for more than 95% of each oil. By comparing the GC-MS results with the results from the GCxGC-FID analysis of a lavender essential oil, many more components could be found within the two-dimensional separation space.

Chromatography, Gas↗