Optimizing loop-type cryogenic modulation in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography using time-variable combination of the dual-stage jets for analysis of crude oil

The enhanced chromatographic capability of the comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC × GC) has already found several applications in analytical chemistry comprising complex samples. However, setting the appropriate chromatographic conditions that maximize sensitivity and separation efficiency in GC × GC may be more difficult than in conventional one-dimension gas chromatography, mainly due to the additional parameters strictly related to the modulation. Loop-type cryogenic modulators have been currently used for crude oil analysis using GC × GC, requiring sometimes a laborious try-and-error procedure to properly tune the dual-jets elapsed times on modulation. In this work, the advantages of choosing a time-variable combination of cold and hot jets pulses in a loop-type cryogenic modulator is presented when performing the fingerprinting analysis of crude oils using GC × GC-QMS, contrary to the conventional procedure based on a single combination for the dual-stage jets. A design of experiments approach is proposed to most effectively optimize the time-variable combination of the dual-jets elapsed times while modulating the wide hydrocarbons range along the GC × GC analysis. The most abundant classes of hydrocarbons contained in the maltenes fraction of a crude oil sample, such as paraffins, aromatics, steranes and hopanes were successfully resolved.