Comparative study of two chromatographic methods for quantifying 2,4,6-trichloranisole in wines

Here we present the validation and the comparative study of two chromatographic methods for quantifying 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) in wines (red, rosé and white wines). The first method involves headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (ECD). The evaluation of the performance parameters shows limit of detection of 0.3 ng l−1, limit of quantification of 1.0 ng l−1, recoveries around 100% and repeatability of 10%. The second one implies a headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. The performance parameters of this second method are limit of detection of 0.2 ng l−1, limit of quantification of 0.8 ng l−1 and repeatability of 10.1%. From the comparative study we can state that both methods provide similar results and the differences between them are the better sensitivity of the GC-ECD method and the very shorter chromatogram running time of the GC–MS method. The two methods are able to quantify TCA below the sensorial threshold in red, rosé and white wines using just a calibration graph, thus they could be a very good tool for quality control in wineries.