Cláudia Alcaraz Zini

Sampling and sample preparation for analysis of aromas and fragrances

Some recent advances in sampling and sample-preparation technologies for fragrance analysis are addressed in this review. Procedures, such as analytical distillation (vapor distillation and simultaneous distillation-extraction), headspace-manipulation methods (static and dynamic headspace analysis and headspace solid-phase microextraction) and direct extraction methods (such as liquid-liquid, solid-phase and supercritical fluid), will be discussed and critically evaluated. Contemporary applications of these techniques to the study of natural and synthetic aromas will be presented.

Characterization of the volatile profile of Brazilian Merlot wines through comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection.

Wine aroma is an important characteristic and may be related to certain specific parameters, such as raw material and production process. The complexity of Merlot wine aroma was considered suitable for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC), as this technique offers superior performance when compared to one-dimensional gas chromatography (1D-GC). The profile of volatile compounds of Merlot wine was, for the first time, qualitatively analyzed by HS-SPME-GC×GC with a time-of-flight mass spectrometric detector (TOFMS), resulting in 179 compounds tentatively identified by comparison of experimental GC×GC retention indices and mass spectra with literature 1D-GC data and 155 compounds tentatively identified only by mass spectra comparison. A set of GC×GC experimental retention indices was also, for the first time, presented for a specific inverse set of columns. Esters were present in higher number (94), followed by alcohols (80), ketones (29), acids (29), aldehydes (23), terpenes (23), lactones (16), furans (14), sulfur compounds (9), phenols (7), pyrroles (5), C13-norisoprenoids (3), and pyrans (2). GC×GC/TOFMS parameters were improved and optimal conditions were: a polar (polyethylene glycol)/medium polar (50% phenyl 50% dimethyl arylene siloxane) column set, oven temperature offset of 10 °C, 7s as modulation period and 1.4s of hot pulse duration. Co-elutions came up to 138 compounds in 1D and some of them were resolved in 2D. Among the co-eluted compounds, thirty-three volatiles co-eluted in both 1D and 2D and their tentative identification was possible only due to spectral deconvolution. Some compounds that might have important contribution to aroma notes were included in these superimposed peaks. Structurally organized distribution of compounds in the 2D space was observed for esters, aldehydes and ketones, alcohols, thiols, lactones, acids and also inside subgroups, as occurred with esters and alcohols. The Fischer Ratio was useful for establishing the analytes responsible for the main differences between Merlot and non-Merlot wines. Differentiation among Merlot wines and wines of other grape varieties were mainly perceived through the following components: ethyl dodecanoate, 1-hexanol, ethyl nonanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl decanoate, dehydro-2-methyl-3(2H)thiophenone, 3-methyl butanoic acid, ethyl tetradecanoate, methyl octanoate, 1,4 butanediol, and 6-methyloctan-1-ol.

Chemical composition and cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic activities of the essential oil from Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth leaves.

We have investigated the chemical composition of Piper gaudichaudianum essential oil, as well as its cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic effects in V79 cells. The chemical analyses showed that the major compounds are (E)-nerolidol (22.4%), alpha-humulene (16.5%), (E)-caryophyllene (8.9%) and bicyclogermacrene (7.4%). Dose-dependent cytotoxic effects were observed in V79 cells treated with essential oil by using clonal survival, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide reduction assay (MTT) and trypan blue exclusion assay (TB), and a significant decrease in survival was observed at concentrations of 0.5 microg/mL and higher. The P. gaudichaudianum essential oil treatment caused DNA strand breaks in V79 cells at concentrations up to 2 microg/mL, as detected by the alkaline comet assay, but did not induce double-strand breaks, as verified by neutral comet assay. It induced a significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated cells at 4, 6 and 10 microg/mL. Moreover, P. gaudichaudianum essential oil significantly increased lipid peroxidation at doses of 0.5 microg/mL and higher, suggesting that the observed oxidant potential can be responsible, at least in part, for its cytotoxic and genotoxic effects.

Comparative study of Eucalyptus dunnii volatile oil composition using retention indices and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight and quadrupole mass spectrometry

In the present work, the composition of volatile oil from leaves of Eucalyptus dunnii was studied using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) techniques. Structurally related compounds were found to elute mainly in specific regions of the two-dimensional space, showing orderly distribution with chemical class. Mass spectra of essential oil components were obtained from two different mass spectrometry detection methods: quadrupole (qMS) and time-of-flight (TOFMS), using the same GCxGC system under the same chromatographic conditions. Higher values of Similarity (average S of 914 with TOFMS compared to 880 with qMS) and Reverse (average R of 944 with TOFMS compared to 881 with qMS) were obtained with GCxGC/TOFMS showing its superior performance, which was most likely due to better sensitivity and resolution arising from the TOFMS system, and lack of spectral bias. Also, the number of compounds found in E. dunnii essential oil was 15% higher when TOFMS was used. Most of these are lower abundance components or exhibit low quality mass spectra; this supports the improved sensitivity obtained with TOFMS. A linear relationship (r2=0.998) between experimental retention indices (LTPRI) of 30 standard compounds obtained with GCxGC/TOFMS and GC with flame ionization detection literature retention indices is reported as an aid for compound identification.

Optimization of the extraction conditions of the volatile compounds from chili peppers by headspace solid phase micro-extraction

A method involving headspace-solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME), gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed and optimized to investigate the volatile composition of Capsicum chili peppers. Five SPME fibers were tested for extraction: carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS-75μm), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-100μm), divinylbenzene/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/PDMS-65μm), carbowax/divinylbenzene (CW/DVB-70μm), and divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS-50/30μm), the last of which was shown to be the most efficient fiber to trap the volatile compounds. Optimization of the extraction conditions was carried out using multivariate strategies such as factorial design and response surface methodology. Eighty three compounds were identified by GC-MS when using the optimized extraction conditions, the majority of which were esters.

Bio-oil production of softwood and hardwood forest industry residues through fast and intermediate pyrolysis and its chromatographic characterization

Bio-oils were produced through intermediate (IP) and fast pyrolysis (FP), using Eucalyptus sp. (hardwood) and Picea abies (softwood), wood wastes produced in large scale in Pulp and Paper industries. Characterization of these bio-oils was made using GC/qMS and GC×GC/TOFMS. The use of GC×GC provided a broader characterization of bio-oils and it allowed tracing potential markers of hardwood bio-oil, such as dimethoxy-phenols, which might co-elute in 1D-GC. Catalytic FP increased the percentage of aromatic hydrocarbons in P. abies bio-oil, indicating its potential for fuel production. However, the presence of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) draws attention to the need of a proper management of pyrolysis process in order to avoid the production of toxic compounds and also to the importance of GC×GC/TOFMS use to avoid co-elutions and consequent inaccuracies related to identification and quantification associated with GC/qMS. Ketones and phenols were the major bio-oil compounds and they might be applied to polymer production.

Differentiation of wines according to grape variety using multivariate analysis of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection data

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection (GC×GC/TOFMS) was used to analyse the volatiles in five types of wines elaborated with grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir varieties. Fisher ratio, principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise linear discriminant analysis (SLDA) were used to develop a discriminant model and, as a result, 12 volatile compounds enabled differentiation and classification of wines according to grape cultivars. A detailed examination of GC×GC/TOFMS data showed that the use of one-dimensional gas chromatography with a mass spectrometric detector (1D-GC/MS) would probably result in misidentification of some of these 12 compounds, as they showed partial coelution with other components in the first chromatographic dimension.

Investigation of sulphur compounds in coal tar using monodimensional and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Coal is a non renewable fossil fuel, used mainly as a source of electrical energy and in the production of coke. It is subjected to thermal treatment, pyrolysis, which produces coke as a main product, in addition to a condensed liquid by-product, called tar. Tar is a complex mixture of organic compounds which contains different chemical classes, presenting aromatic and sulphur heterocyclic compounds. In general, identification of these compounds requires steps of isolation and fractionation, mainly due to co-elution of these compounds with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The objective of this work is to characterize the sulphur compounds present in the coal tar obtained via pyrolysis, using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detector (GC×GC/TOFMS). Coal samples from the State of Paraná, Brazil were subjected to laboratorial scale pyrolysis. Several experimental conditions were tested, such as sample weight (5, 10 and 15g), heating ramp (10, 25 and 100°C/min) and final temperature (500, 700 and 900°C). Samples were analyzed by one dimensional gas chromatography (1D-GC) coupled to a quadrupole mass spectrometry detector (GC/qMS) and two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry detector (GC×GC/TOFMS). The higher amount of sulphur compounds was obtained at a final temperature of 700°C and a heating ramp of 100°C/min. The main classes observed in the color plot were thiophenes, benzothiophenes and alkylated dibenzothiophenes. GC×GC/TOFMS allowed the identification of the greater number of compounds and the separation of several sulphur compounds from one another. Moreover, separation of sulphur compounds from polyaromatic hydrocarbons and phenols was achieved, which was not possible by 1D-GC. Comparing GC×GC/TOFMS and 1D-GC (SIM mode) also showed that 1D-GC, one of the most employed quantification tools for sulphur compounds, can be misleading for detection, identification and quantification, as the number of isomers of sulphur compounds found was greater than theoretically possible.

Comparison between pre-fractionation and fractionation process of heavy gas oil for determination of sulfur compounds using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

The separation of the organic sulfur compounds (OSC) of petroleum or its heavy fractions is a critical step and is essential for the correct characterization of these compounds, especially due to similar physical and chemical properties of polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). This similarity results in coelutions among PAH and PASH and for this reason former steps of fractionation are required before gas chromatographic analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of GC×GC for the separation and identification of OSC in a heavy gas oil sample without fractionation, after pre-fractionation in an alumina column and also after fractionation process. This last one was performed with a modified stationary phase manufactured and characterized in the laboratory, called Pd(II)-MPSG, where palladium is chemically linked to silica through mercaptopropyl groups. The fractions obtained from both procedures were analyzed by GC×GC/TOFMS, which was effective to separate and identify various classes of OSC. A hundred and thirty-five compounds were tentatively identified in the sample that was only pre-fractionated. However, when the fractionation was also performed with the Pd(II)-MPSG phase, a larger number of sulfur compounds were found (317). Results have shown that the analysis of a pre-fractionated sample by GC×GC/TOFMS is suitable when the goal is a general characterization of classes of compounds in the sample, while a more detailed analysis of PASH can be performed, using also the fractionation Pd(II)-MPSG phase. GC×GC/TOFMS played a major role in the comparison of samples obtained from pre-fractionation and fractionation steps due to its high peak capacity, selectivity, organized distribution of chromatographic peaks and resolution.

Identification of organic sulfur compounds in coal bitumen obtained by different extraction techniques using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection

The determination of organic sulfur compounds (OSC) in coal is of great interest. Technically and operationally these compounds are not easily removed and promote corrosion of equipment. Environmentally, the burning of sulfur compounds leads to the emission of SOx gases, which are major contributors to acid rain. Health-wise, it is well known that these compounds have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Bitumen can be extracted from coal by different techniques, and use of gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric detection enables identification of compounds present in coal extracts. The OSC from three different bitumens were tentatively identified by use of three different extraction techniques: accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasonic extraction (UE), and supercritical-fluid extraction (SFE). Results obtained from one-dimensional gas chromatography (1D GC) coupled to quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (GC–qMS) and from two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (GC × GC–TOFMS) were compared. By use of 2D GC, a greater number of OSC were found in ASE bitumen than in SFE and UE bitumens. No OSC were identified with 1D GC–qMS, although some benzothiophenes and dibenzothiophenes were detected by use of EIM and SIM modes. GC × GC–TOFMS applied to investigation of OSC in bitumens resulted in analytical improvement, as more OSC classes and compounds were identified (thiols, sulfides, thiophenes, naphthothiophenes, benzothiophenes, and benzonaphthothiophenes). The roof-tile effect was observed for OSC and PAH in all bitumens. Several co-elutions among analytes and with matrix interferents were solved by use of GC×GC.