Vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy in combination with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography for the monitoring of volatile organic compounds in breath gas: A feasibility study

• Comparison of GCxGC-VUV and GCxGC-TOFMS regarding peak widths, LODs and LOQs.
• Demonstration of VUV spectral feature of breath gas compounds.
• Application of NTME-GCxGC-VUV to breath gas analysis.

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) absorption spectroscopy was recently introduced as a new detection system for one, as well as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and successfully applied to the analysis of various analytes in several matrices. In this study, its suitability for the analysis of breath metabolites was investigated and the impact of a finite volume of the absorption cell and makeup gas pressure was evaluated for volatile analytes in terms of sensitivity and chromatographic resolution. A commercial available VUV absorption spectrometer was coupled to GC×GC and applied to the analysis of highly polar volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Breath gas samples were acquired by needle trap micro extraction (NTME) during a glucose challenge and analysed by the applied technique. Regarding qualitative and quantitative information, the VGA-100 is compatible with common GC×GC detection systems like FID and even TOFMS. Average peak widths of 300 ms and LODs in the lower ng range were achieved using GC×GC-VUV. Especially small oxygenated breath metabolites show intense and characteristic absorption patterns in the VUV region. Challenge responsive VOCs could be identified and monitored during a glucose challenge. The new VUV detection technology might especially be of benefit for applications in clinical research.