Browsing by Subject "GC/MS"

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Furan fatty acid amounts and their occurrence in triacylglycerols of white asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) from the German market
(2023) Müller, Franziska; Bauer, Vanessa; Vetter, Walter
Vegetables including asparagus contain a wide range of fatty acids, mainly stored in triacylglycerols. One class of interesting minor fatty acids is the family of furan fatty acids (FuFAs) because of their antioxidant properties. Since FuFAs have not been studied previously in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.), we developed and applied a simplified method for their analysis in 20 fresh and three preserved samples. Four FuFAs were detected with clear dominance of the dimethyl‐substituted FuFAs (D‐FuFAs) 11D5 and 9D5 as well as small amounts of the monomethyl‐substituted FuFAs (M‐FuFAs) 11M5 and 9M5. The total amounts of FuFAs in fresh white asparagus ranged from 1.4 to 4.6 mg/100 g dry weight (mean 3.0 mg/100 g dry weight). Subsequent LC‐Q‐Orbitrap‐HRMS measurements enabled the detection of 22 different FuFA‐containing TAGs. These were predominantly found together with one or two polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Geometrical and positional isomers of unsaturated furan fatty acids in food
(2022) Müller, Franziska; Hammerschick, Tim; Vetter, Walter
Furan fatty acids (FuFA) are important antioxidants found in low concentrations in many types of food. In addition to conventional FuFA which normally feature saturated carboxyalkyl and alkyl chains, a few previous studies indicated the FuFA co‐occurrence of low shares of unsaturated furan fatty acids (uFuFA). For their detailed analysis, the potential uFuFA were enriched by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) or countercurrent chromatography (CCC) followed by silver ion chromatography from a 4,7,10,13,16,19‐docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester oil, a 5,8,11,14,17‐eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester oil and a latex glove extract. Subsequent gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis enabled the detection of 16 individual uFuFA isomers with a double bond in conjugation with the central furan moiety. In either case, four instead of two uFuFA isomers previously reported in food, respectively, were detected by GC/MS. These isomers showed characteristic elution and abundance patterns in GC/MS chromatograms which indicated the presence of two pairs of cis/trans‐isomers (geometrical isomers).
Improvements in the analysis of food contaminations deriving from packaging materials
(2009) Rothenbacher, Thorsten; Schwack, Wolfgang
The dissertation presents in its introduction the sources and process of food contaminations deriving from packaging materials. Subsequent legislative aspects, the analysis of food contact materials and contaminants in food are explained and examples therefore are given. The main part of the dissertation covers the following published papers: 1.T. Rothenbacher, M. Baumann and D. Fuegel. 2-Isopropylthioxanthone (2-ITX) in food and food packaging materials on the German market. Food Additives and Contaminants 2007; 24: pp. 438-444 2.T. Rothenbacher, W. Schwack. Determination of epoxidized soybean oil by gas chromatography/single quadrupole and tandem mass spectrometry stable isotope dilution assay. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2007; 21: pp. 1937-1943 3.T. Rothenbacher, W. Schwack. Non-targeted multi-component analytical screening of plastic food contact materials using fast interpretation of deliverables via expert structure-activity relationship software Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL 2009; 92 (3): pp. 941-9501 4.T. Rothenbacher, W. Schwack. Rapid and nondestructive analysis of phthalic acid esters in toys of poly(vinyl chloride) by direct analysis in real time?single quadrupole mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2009; 23: pp. 2829?2835 5.T. Rothenbacher, W. Schwack. Rapid identification of additives in poly(vinyl chloride) lid gaskets by direct analysis in real time ionisation and single-quadrupole mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 2010; 24: pp. 21-29
Investigations into heat- and light-induced terpene modifications in essential oils
(2023) Bitterling, Hannes; Vetter, Walter
Essential oils belong to secondary plant metabolites, with terpenoids and phenylpropanoids being among the main constituents in terms of quantity. Due to their lipophilic character and high volatility, they are mainly obtained by steam distillation. Citrus essential oils (agrumen oils) are an exception , since they are usually extracted from the peels by means of pressing, whereby less volatile components such as coumarins and furocoumarins are also introduced. Due to their odor and taste-giving properties, essential oils are used in the food, beverage, and cosmetics industries. In addition, due to a wide range of pharmacological properties, they are used in phytotherapy as well as in aromatherapy. However, most essential oils are highly susceptible to oxidation, polymerization, dehydrogenation, and isomerization reactions in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, light, and at high temperatures. The resulting organoleptic changes usually lead to a significant quality reduction. The formation of terpene hydroperoxides is another problem, as these are suspected of causing intolerances such as redness and itching in 1-3% of the European population upon contact with the skin. The detection of these chemical changes forms an integral part of quality control and can be prevented as far as possible by suitable production, transport, and storage strategies. Due to their volatility, essential oils are mainly analyzed by gas chromatography. However, due to their instability, the detection of hydroperoxides places considerable demands on common analytical methods. For this reason, a novel spectrophotometric method for the detection of peroxides and hydroperoxides in terpenes and essential oils was developed (paper 1). The oxidation of N-N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine by peroxides yielding an intensely red-colored cation (Wursters red) allowed colorimetric detection and quantitation of even smallest amounts (LOD: 0.5 ppm). The minimal sample amount of only a few milligrams, as well as simple and fast performance predestine this method for daily laboratory routine (paper 1). Among plant terpenoids, the monoterpene R-(+)-limonene is very widespread. Thus, it is not only found in citrus oils but also of in caraway oil, where its proportion amounts to almost 50%. To investigate the storage stability, R-(+)-limonene, S-(+)-carvone, different caraway oils, and the corresponding caraway seeds were stored in desiccators at 25 °C and 40 °C for eighteen months (paper 2). The samples were analyzed monthly by GC/MS and GC/FID, as well as HPLC/DAD-MS/MS. This showed that the comparison of seed, isolated essential oil, and pure substance, whichhad not been considered in storage studies so far, was of extraordinary importance. Here, both the plant matrix and the essential oil had a protective effect on individual terpenes and delayed their degradation (paper 2). Further, a clear difference between photo-oxidation and autoxidation was observed. Light-induced oxidation of terpenes primarily resulted in the formation of hydroperoxides, whereas autoxidation led to a variety of compounds such as alcohols, ketones, and epoxides. Thus, the secondary products can serve as specific markers for conclusions about the preload and quality of essential oils. In the study presented in paper 3, further photo-oxidation experiments were conducted with beta-pinene, R-(+)-limonene, and gamma-terpinene, with added furocoumarins. Furocoumarins can absorb UV-A light in the range of 320 – 380 nm and enter an energetically excited state. This energy difference between the ground state and excited state can be dissipated again by the emission of fluorescent and phosphorescent light. In this process, short-wave energy-rich UV light is converted into lower-energy visible light (bathochromic shift). For this reason, the UV light-induced degradation of the terpenes beta-pinene, R-(+)-limonene, and gamma-terpinene could be significantly reduced by adding 5% each of xanthotoxin, bergapten, bergaptol, and bergamottin. The effect of adding bergaptol was most pronounced in the photooxidation of gamma-terpinene (paper 3). Consequently, in citrus essential oils from which the natural furocoumarins had been previously removed, irradiation with UV light resulted in a strong degradation of the terpenes. This process could be markedly reduced by the re-addition of 5% of the previously removed plant-specific furocoumarins (paper 4). In summary, it can be concluded that not only the plant matrix and the essential oil as a multicomponent mixture but also potential interactions with other substances forming part of the essential oil such as furocoumarins may significantly slow down the oxidation of terpenoids.
Previtamin D2, vitamin D2, and vitamin D4 amounts in different mushroom species irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light and occurrence of structurally related photoproducts
(2024) Sommer, Katrin; Hillinger, Marissa; Vetter, Walter
Mushrooms are rich in ergosterol and ergosta‐5,7‐dienol, which can be partly converted into vitamin D2 and D4 through ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Typically, mushrooms have very low vitamin D contents, but it can be increased by UV irradiation. This process generates additional photoisomers scarcely studied in mushrooms due to analytical challenges. Here, we developed a new solid phase extraction (SPE) method to separate vitamin D2, vitamin D4, and other tri‐ and pentacyclic photoisomers from the much higher abundant ergosterol. Subsequent GC/MS analysis enabled the detection of ten photoisomers in eight UV‐treated mushroom species, including vitamin D2 (previtamin D2, tachysterol2, two suprasterol2 and trans‐vitamin D2 isomers) and vitamin D4 (previtamin D4). Quantitated vitamin D2 contents of 10–540 µg/100 g dry weight agreed well with the sparse literature data available for the investigated mushroom species. In addition, previtamin D2 (nd–1950 µg/100 g dry weight) and vitamin D4 (10–140 µg/100 g dw) were quantified in the samples. The content and photoproduct compositions varied considerably between different mushroom species. Practical applications: The novel SPE method can be applied to study the vitamin D and photoisomer content of mushrooms.