Potential of Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography with Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometric Detection in Food Analysis

摘要

Comprehensive two-dimesional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection (GCXGC-TOF MS) have become popular in a scientific community during the last decade. This analytical technique has several unique features in comparison with a one-dimensional GC-MS. Enhanced sensitivity and improved chromatographic resolution resulted from a modulation and separation of a sample in two capillary columns with different polarities as well as unique identification of compounds due to the collection of full mass spectra are well known characteristics of this sophisticated technique. Strict legislative regulation of pesticides and some organic contaminants i.e. very low maximum residue limits in foodstuffs were established in the European Union. For this reason national food authorities are forced to apply new sensitive and reliable techniques like GCXGC-TOF MS to meet these requirements.