Identification, quantitation and method validation for the analysis of suspected allergens in fragrances by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry and with flame ionization detection

The first part of this study first aims at validating a method to identify suspected allergens limited by EU regulations in fragrances by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) coupled with rapid scanning quadrupole MS (GC × GC-qMS). The effectiveness of the quadrupole MS operating at different scanning speed (1000 and 11,111 amu/s) was evaluated in identifying (full scan mode acquisition – TIC) and in quantifying (single ion monitoring – SIM) the target analytes in complex mixtures. In full scan acquisition mode the mass range was reduced to 40–240 amu to increase the scan acquisition rate while in SIM mode the influence of different dwell-times (40, 10 and 5 ms) was tested. The number of scans for each single modulated chromatographic GC × GC peak and the total number of scans for the 2D peak, together with half height peak width (referred to apex) of each allergen in the standard mixture in both TIC and SIM modes were determined. Moreover, the match quality of the spectra obtained by GC/MS at 1000 and 11,111 amu/s and by GC × GC–MS at 11,111 amu/s were compared and the occurrence of spectral skewing verified. In the second part of this work quantitative methods by GC × GC-SIM/qMS and GC × GC-FID were validated on the basis of Eurachem/CITAC protocols through which the following performance parameters were determined: confirmation of identity, selectivity and specificity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), linearity (working and linear range), precision and accuracy and uncertainty. Suspected allergens were spiked in a concentration range between 2 and 25 ppm (μg/mL) on a Test fragrance taken as a reference, while 1,4 dibromo-benzene and 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl were used as internal standards.