Optimisation and validation of programmed temperature vaporization (PTV) injection in solvent vent mode for the analysis of the 15 + 1 EU-priority PAHs by GC–MS

This paper presents the optimisation of a programmed temperature vaporization solvent vent (PTV-SV) injection gas chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC–MS) method for the analysis of the 15 + 1 EU-priority PAHs in food extracts. Three operation parameters (vent time, vent flow and vent pressure) were optimised by applying a D-optimal experimental design. Among these variables, vent time showed the highest effect on the analytical response (signal intensity) of the target PAHs.The 15 + 1 EU-priority PAHs were analysed in solvent solutions and in extracts of fortified sausage. In addition, blank lamb meat extracts were prepared and spiked with the target PAHs prior to GC–MS analysis. The performance of the optimised PTV-SV injection GC–MS method was scrutinised for linearity, precision, matrix effects and robustness. All parameters were found satisfactorily. Compared to PTV injection in splitless mode, the PTV-SV injection method provided an enhancement of sensitivity for all target PAHs. Especially significant was the improvement of the S/N ratios of the compounds with the highest molecular mass.