Comprehensive gas chromatography coupled to simultaneous dual detection (ToFMS/FID) as a confirmatory method for MOSH&MOAH determination in food

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOHs) are very complex mixtures of isomers mainly associated with two classes of compounds: mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSHs) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAHs). The analysis of such contaminants in food is a challenging task, especially without a mass-spectrometry-based confirmatory method. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) alone fails, because the MS spectra of the fractions considered and interferences are often difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish. Therefore, the use of comprehensive multidimensional GC (GC×GC) with parallel dual detection, namely a
flame ionization detector (FID) and time-of-flight–MS (TOF–MS) has been proposed. The enhanced chromatographic separation, along with the full mass spectra information, allows reducing the detection of false positives. The method was optimized to obtain completely overlapped 2D plots from the two detectors, simplifying the use of a classification tool, including a spectrum-based filter, to translate the findings in the MS to the FID trace, and thus correct any quantification issue due to coelution with naturally present components.