Derivatization and microextraction methods for determination of organic compounds by gas chromatography

• We review the combination of derivatization and microextraction methods.
• We studied amines, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and phenols.
• Because of polarity and adsorption, these analytes cannot be determined by GC.
• Microextraction and derivatization enhances recovery, separation and detectability.
• We describe acylation, silylation and alkylation for derivatization of analytes.

Gas chromatography (GC) of some organic compounds containing carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amino functional groups is difficult due to their physicochemical properties, such as low volatility, high polarity, and high solubility in water. Furthermore, some compounds are volatile enough but tend to be adsorbed and decomposed on the columns, and readily give tailed peaks, ghosting phenomena, and low detector sensitivity. However, to obtain optimal analysis conditions, appropriate sample preparation that could include an extraction clean-up step or concentration and derivatization procedures is usually essential. Current interest is in techniques that are environment friendly and reduce the cost of analysis by reducing or completely eliminating toxic organic solvents. Hence, microextraction methods have attracted much attention as alternatives to classical extraction and sample-preparation procedures. We review the combination of derivatization and microextraction methods for the determination of amines, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and phenols by GC.