Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard

Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a standard analytical method for identifying specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban air samples. Quantification ideally relies on calibration curves using standards for each compound. However, due to the variable composition o...

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Main Authors: Ivona Sofronievska, Marina Stefova, Jasmina Petreska Stanoeva, Jane Bogdanov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia 2024-12-01
Series:Macedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
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Online Access:https://mjcce.org.mk/index.php/MJCCE/article/view/2939
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author Ivona Sofronievska
Marina Stefova
Jasmina Petreska Stanoeva
Jane Bogdanov
author_facet Ivona Sofronievska
Marina Stefova
Jasmina Petreska Stanoeva
Jane Bogdanov
author_sort Ivona Sofronievska
collection DOAJ
description Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a standard analytical method for identifying specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban air samples. Quantification ideally relies on calibration curves using standards for each compound. However, due to the variable composition of VOCs and the limited availability of all standards, this strategy is challenging and not always feasible. Quantification using an internal standard is a simple and accurate approach, as it involves the simultaneous analysis of the internal standard and analytes, eliminating the need for a calibration curve if their concentrations fall within the linear dynamic range. In this study, quantification of VOCs from different chemical classes has been evaluated using a single standard mixture and anisole as an internal standard and compared to the external calibration as standard method for quantification by GC-MS. Both methods showed comparable results, with a relative error within ±30% of the theoretical concentration. Linearity was confirmed in the range from 100 to 4000 μg/L, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the relative response factors (RRFs) met the acceptance criteria of ≤30% for each target VOC. Toluene, chlorobenzene, C6-C2 and C6-C3 substituted benzenes yielded similar average RRFs, ranging from 1.280 to 1.601 with an RSD of 7.83%. The methods were applied for quantification of VOCs in ambient air on real samples collected on Radiello adsorbents at one urban location. Using anisole as an internal standard proved to be a simple and reliable method for determining VOC concentrations, offering a convenient alternative to external standard calibration.
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issn 1857-5552
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spelling doaj-art-1e7c0b7f99534a27b40e7a98e18aac5e2024-12-13T06:29:17ZengSociety of Chemists and Technologists of MacedoniaMacedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering1857-55521857-56252024-12-0143210.20450/mjcce.2024.2939Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standardIvona Sofronievska0Marina Stefova1Jasmina Petreska Stanoeva2Jane Bogdanov3Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 5, 1001 Skopje, RN MacedoniaInstitute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 5, 1001 Skopje, RN MacedoniaInstitute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 5, 1001 Skopje, RN MacedoniaInstitute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 5, 1001 Skopje, RN MacedoniaGas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a standard analytical method for identifying specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban air samples. Quantification ideally relies on calibration curves using standards for each compound. However, due to the variable composition of VOCs and the limited availability of all standards, this strategy is challenging and not always feasible. Quantification using an internal standard is a simple and accurate approach, as it involves the simultaneous analysis of the internal standard and analytes, eliminating the need for a calibration curve if their concentrations fall within the linear dynamic range. In this study, quantification of VOCs from different chemical classes has been evaluated using a single standard mixture and anisole as an internal standard and compared to the external calibration as standard method for quantification by GC-MS. Both methods showed comparable results, with a relative error within ±30% of the theoretical concentration. Linearity was confirmed in the range from 100 to 4000 μg/L, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the relative response factors (RRFs) met the acceptance criteria of ≤30% for each target VOC. Toluene, chlorobenzene, C6-C2 and C6-C3 substituted benzenes yielded similar average RRFs, ranging from 1.280 to 1.601 with an RSD of 7.83%. The methods were applied for quantification of VOCs in ambient air on real samples collected on Radiello adsorbents at one urban location. Using anisole as an internal standard proved to be a simple and reliable method for determining VOC concentrations, offering a convenient alternative to external standard calibration. https://mjcce.org.mk/index.php/MJCCE/article/view/2939volatile organic compounds; anisole; internal standard; external calibration; GC-MS
spellingShingle Ivona Sofronievska
Marina Stefova
Jasmina Petreska Stanoeva
Jane Bogdanov
Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
Macedonian Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
volatile organic compounds; anisole; internal standard; external calibration; GC-MS
title Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
title_full Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
title_fullStr Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
title_full_unstemmed Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
title_short Establishment, evaluation and application of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
title_sort establishment evaluation and application of a gas chromatography mass spectrometry method for quantification of volatile organic compounds in ambient air using anisole as an internal standard
topic volatile organic compounds; anisole; internal standard; external calibration; GC-MS
url https://mjcce.org.mk/index.php/MJCCE/article/view/2939
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AT jasminapetreskastanoeva establishmentevaluationandapplicationofagaschromatographymassspectrometrymethodforquantificationofvolatileorganiccompoundsinambientairusinganisoleasaninternalstandard
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