Chromatography Forum

We're performing analysis of odor compounds in some fruit juices. One of the last steps of sample prep is elution of analytes from SPE column (Varian Mega B2 - C18) with dichloromethane. The question is which alternative solvent with higher boiling point might be used for washing the compounds from such a column?

Cantacoxinha wrote:
We're performing analysis of odor compounds in some fruit juices. One of the last steps of sample prep is elution of analytes from SPE column (Varian Mega B2 - C18) with dichloromethane. The question is which alternative solvent with higher boiling point might be used for washing the compounds from such a column?

It would depend on the compounds that you are looking for, but ethyl acetate is one that is used for environmental samples. It is more polar than dichloromethane, if you need similar polarity maybe hexane would work.

Thanks for replying. The compounds are thiols that are found in tropical fruits like passionfruit, guava etc. We are trying to substitute DCM with something less volatile since we're afraid that the analytes are partially lost when preconcentration of eluted solution from the SPE cartridge is done.

A suggestion. Rather than change the solvent used in eluting the SPE cartridge, add a "keeper" to the extract before evaporating away the DCM. A drop or two of a solvent like hexane, isooctane, or heavier. And then evaporate away the DCM, leaving the analytes of interest in the last remaining drops of solvent.