Rapid extraction and analysis of organic compounds from solid samples using coupled supercritical fluid extraction/gas chromatography

Summary

Direct coupling of supercritical fluid extractions with gas chromatography (SFE-GC) allows the extraction, concentration, and gas chromatographic analysis of organic analytes from solid samples to be performed in less than 1 h. Coupling of the supercritical fluid extraction step with a capillary gas chromatographic column is achieved using a standard on-column injector and requires no modification of the gas chromatograph. Maximum sensitivity is achieved and analyte degradation or loss is minimized since the extracted species are quantitatively transferred into the fusedsilica capillary gas chromatographic column where they are cryogenically focused prior to normal gas chromatographic analysis using flame ionization (SFE-GC/FID) or mass spectral (SFE-GC/MS) detection. SFE-GC analysis yields good chromatographic peak shapes that compare favorably with those obtained using standard on-column injection techniques. Class-selective extractions can be achieved by performing multiple SFE-GC analyses with different extraction pressures. The ability of coupled SFE-GC to yield rapid extraction and analysis of organic analytes is demonstrated for a variety of samples including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from treated wood, urban dust, and river sediment, phenolic species from wood smoke particulates, nicotine from tobacco, biological markers from coal, and flavor components from food products.