ADV06-15_1-412

110 / 413

H T TOPICS in Chromatography
GCxGC-TOFMS of Riser Pipe Oil from BP Gulf Oil Spill
posted by Jack Cochran
I recently analyzed an oil sample collected by an ROV from the riser
pipe at the BP Gulf oil spill site using GCxGC-TOFMS, a powerful mul-
tidimensional technique capable of characterizing complex samples
that defy one-dimensional GC-MS. The column setup was a 30 m x
0.25 mm x 0.25 μm Rxi-17Sil MS in the first dimension with a 1.2 m x
0.15 mm x 0.15 μm Rxi-1ms in the second dimension. This arrange-
ment puts the highly aromatic compounds (e.g. PAHs) at the bottom
of the contour plot while the aliphatics are retained by the Rxi-1ms in the second dimension,
eluting away from the aromatics. Given that PAHs are considered the “toxic” compounds in
crude oil, this is an efficient arrangement for their interference-free determination. Having a full
mass range TOFMS allows spectral fingerprinting of the resolved components, including PAHs.
Read full blog or post comments at
See page 4 for a GCxGC analysis of PAHs inmussels!
The New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection
began phasing in a new
analytical method for
extractable petroleum
hydrocarbons on Sept. 1,
2010. Restek has all the
standards, GC columns,
SPE tubes needed for this
newmethod—contact
us for assistance getting
set up.
New NJ-EPH Method
New reversible Flip Seals from Restek
last twice as long as other inlet seals.
Simply use—flip—then use again.
Flip Seal Doubles Lifetime
Lit. Cat.# GNAD1231
© 2010 Restek Corporation.
The 47th Florida Pesticide Residue
Workshop took place July 18-21 in St.
Pete Beach, Florida. As usual, this
meeting featured an excellent tech-
nical program, which included ses-
sions on the Gulf oil spill, multiclass/
multiresidue analyses, veterinary
drug residues, global chemical con-
taminant conflicts/resolutions, and
US government residue programs.
In addition to the formal presenta-
tions, there was a lively evening dis-
cussion on developing a unified
QuEChERS method that harmonizes
the two current official methods
(AOAC and EN 15662), which differ
slightly in their approach. No consen-
sus was reached, but attendees
enjoyed a vigorous debate moderat-
ed by QuEChERS inventors Steve
Lehotay (USDA) and Michelangelo
Anastassiades (CVUA-Stuttgart). Much
discussion centered on efficiencies
for just a few pesticides, which is
ironic, in a way, considering the effec-
tiveness of QuEChERS for hundreds
of pesticides!
Visit
for a complete selection of QuEChERS
products, technical applications, and
resources.
FPRW QuEChERS
Session
• Same easy sealing as Dual
Vespel® Ring Inlet Seals—
no extra washer needed.
• Lower leak rate than
OEM metal seals.
• Maximum transfer
of analytes to
column.
See page 7 for details.
Patented.
ChromaBLOG raphy
Website : E-mail : TelNo : 03 9762 2034 . . . in AUSTRALIA