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GC-MS SPME Wine applications

Posted: Wed May 03, 2017 9:00 pm
by burritoblu
Hello everybody,

I looked in the forum for some material concerning wine analysis by gas chromatography with automatic sample preparations (using PAL autosamplers), but I did not succeed, so I am opening this topic.

I am responsible for the R&D in a wine company and we are interested in developing our laboratory in the field of cromatography. To begin the goal is to be able to quantify the following compounds: 4-Ethylphenols, 4-Ethylguaiacol, Methoxypirazines and Haloanisols. In literature there are a lot of applications using SPME coupled with GC-FID, GC/MS (or GC/MS-MS) and some using SBSE (Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction).

For the volatile phenols no problems, I can do them pretty easily even with HS-SPME GC-MS, as they are usually in the order of hundreds of ug/L
However, for Haloanisols and Methoxypirazines the concentrations can be very low (1 ng/l) and high sensitivity is required, so I am struggling to find the the most suitable analytical system, without "wasting" money.
With HS-SPME GC MS I can reach 10 ng/L of sensibility, which is insufficent.
With SPME (immersion) GC-MS I will probably reach 3-5 ng/L, but it will be difficult to go lower than that.
So, I am evaluating the new fibers SPME Arrow from PAL-Restek, because they have more absorption phase and could theoretically allow me to reach 0.5-1 ng/L. They look like a very interesting innovation in my opinion, but they are new (2016) and there are very few papers published yet, not even one on wine.
Some other laboratories are using the SBSE GC-MS, because of the huge surface of absorption of the coated stir bars they use, allowing them to quantify fractions of ng. However, this technique requires thermal desorption and crio focusing, increasing the price of about 40-45k euro compared to SPME GC-MS and at that price it makes sense to get a triple quad and solve the issue.

I would like to know your opinion about these new Arrow fibers: Do you think it can be an interesting way to increase sensibility maintaining full automation?

I am in contact with Agilent and Thermo. The first suggested the triple quad or the classic SPME dealing with its limitations, because they still do not provide the Arrow adaptations for their sampler (will be ready in Q4 2017).
However, I worked with Agilent before and I am little bit concerned about switching, because I was happy with the equipment. In addition, I am not convinced about the cool quad Thermo offers. Thanks to the SPME I will work with quite clean samples, but I don't think it will be resistant to pollution as the heated one of Agilent.

Re: GC-MS SPME Wine applications

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 6:46 am
by Peter Apps
Ask Restek to develop a method; I have always found them to be very helpful, and if they can put out an application note on cork taint their sales will soar. So win-win.

I think that Markes have a similar system. It was invented by Ben Burger at Stellenbosch about 10 years ago.

Peter

Re: GC-MS SPME Wine applications

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:28 am
by burritoblu
Ask Restek to develop a method; I have always found them to be very helpful, and if they can put out an application note on cork taint their sales will soar. So win-win.
Good idea. I will send them an email asap.
I think that Markes have a similar system. It was invented by Ben Burger at Stellenbosch about 10 years ago.
It seems like you are right ! This is from Ben Burger profile on the university of stellenbosch page.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has gained enormous popularity as a very convenient sample enrichment technique, unfortunately with relatively low sensitivity. It is gradually replaced by stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), which has a very high sensitivity. On the other hand, the implementation of SBSE is quite expensive. LECUS has succeeded in developing a high sensitivity sample enrichment probe (SEP), which can be implemented on any GC at practically no cost. The application of the SEP in the trace analysis of various sample types such as, for example the determination of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in cork and for the identification of biological markers for various pathological conditions in humans, is now being investigated

Re: GC-MS SPME Wine applications

Posted: Thu May 04, 2017 1:10 pm
by rb6banjo
You might look into the VASE sorbent pens by Entech:

http://www.entechinst.com/featured-prod ... rbent-Pens

Re: GC-MS SPME Wine applications

Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:57 am
by burritoblu
You might look into the VASE sorbent pens by Entech:

http://www.entechinst.com/featured-prod ... rbent-Pens
Thank you. It looks like an interesting technology, however there is zero literature on this available. In addition, this is capable of doing exclusively head-space analysis. I will keep an eye on it.

Restek answered and I will have a discussion with them soon.