Application of gas chromatography-high resolution quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry to the analysis of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone and phenylacetaldehyde in complex aromatic samples

The study focuses on the quantitative analytical characterization of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone and phenylacetaldehyde in complex aromatic samples by gas chromatography-high resolution quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF MS). The four compounds in real sample were accurately qualified and quantified through a comprehensive analysis of the GC retention times and the accurate masses of the ion fragments obtained by the high resolution MS. The new method therefore effectively avoids the interference of the real sample substrate, which reduces the accuracy of the analysis results. The peak area of the characteristic ion fragment for each compound was used for quantitation calculation. The MS signal responses of the four compounds showed good linear relationships with the corresponding mass concentrations and the linear regression coefficients were greater than 0. 99. The method recoveries were 87. 97% - 103.01%. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0. 01, 0. 03, 0. 02 and 0. 01 mg/L for benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, acetophenone and phenylacetaldehyde respectively. The contents of the four compounds in three real samples were analyzed. The study provided a new strategy for oxygenate analysis in complex aromatic samples using GC-QTOF MS. By measuring the accurate masses, the new method reduces the reliance on chromatographic separation ability and makes up the shortcomings of the traditional GC-MS methods.