Magnetic nanoparticles used in headspace extraction coupled with DSI-GC-IT/MS for analysis of VOCs in dry Traditional Chinese Medicine

A novel magnetic method using polystyrene modified magnetic nanoparticles to perform thermo-headspace extraction was successfully developed for extraction and preconcentration of volatile organic components in dry Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) based on gas chromatography-ion trap/mass spectrometry with a ChromatoProbe direct sample introduction device. The dried fruit of Amomum testaceum Ridl. was used as the object TCM. The optimum parameters of headspace magnetic solid-phase extraction were investigated, in which desorption solvent ethyl acetate played a key role in this method, and the headspace extraction temperature of 90 °C and the headspace extraction time of 15 min finally decided. Headspace solid-phase microextraction method was also used to analyze volatile compounds in the TCM to compare with the proposed method. The results show that 60 components were identified totally by two methods; most of the low boiling point chemical compounds are isolated by this new method. In this work, an environmental-friendly and cheap analytical method was established, and a new approach to analyze volatile compounds in dry Traditional Chinese Medicine was also provided.

Magnetic nanoparticles as adsorbents extract the volatile compounds in the Traditional Chinese Medicine.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide