Fast GC PAH Analysis by ZB-PAH-EU and ZB-PAH-SeleCT

Importance of the Topic

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a major class of environmental pollutants and food‐safety markers with stringent regulatory limits worldwide. Their persistence, toxicity and occurrence in complex matrices such as food, rubber, plastics, electronics and environmental samples require high‐performance analytical solutions. Fast, reliable and selective PAH analysis is essential for compliance, risk assessment and routine quality control in laboratories across industries.

Study Goals and Overview

This application overview introduces two dedicated GC stationary phases—Zebron™ ZB-PAH-EU and ZB-PAH-SeleCT—designed to elevate conventional PAH testing. The key objectives are:

• Achieve baseline resolution of EU 15+1 and EPA 610 PAH target lists.
• Resolve challenging isomer pairs, especially chrysene versus triphenylene.
• Increase throughput by up to 70 % through optimized column dimensions and thermal stability.
• Demonstrate method versatility across matrices including environmental, food, polymer and electronic component samples.

Methodology and Instrumentation

All methods employ GC–MS with Zebron ZB-PAH-EU or ZB-PAH-SeleCT columns in various lengths (10–40 m), internal diameters (0.10–0.25 mm) and film thicknesses (0.08–0.20 µm). Typical conditions include:

• Injection: split or splitless, inlet temperatures 290 – 330 °C, 0.5–1 µL volume.
• Carrier gas: helium at constant pressure (20–24 psi) or constant flow (0.68–1.75 mL/min).
• Oven programs: multi-segment ramps optimized for fast ramp rates (up to 140 °C/min) and high final temperatures (320 –360 °C) for heavy PAHs.
• Detection: single quadrupole mass spectrometer (MSD), scan or SIM mode, m/z 50–500.
• Recommended liners: Zebron PLUS single-taper Z-Liner™ for inertness and peak shape.

Main Results and Discussion

ZB-PAH-EU columns deliver complete separation of EU 15+1 and EPA 610 PAHs with high resolution and reproducible quantitation. A 30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.20 µm column resolves all critical pairs in under 50 minutes, while 20 m and 10 m alternatives reduce run times to 26 min and 16 min respectively—achieving up to 70 % faster analyses with maintained resolution. ZB-PAH-SeleCT, with a tailored phase chemistry, completely separates chrysene and triphenylene and delivers 27 % shorter runtimes compared to a popular PAH column, alongside improved sensitivity for late-eluting analytes. The new phases also enable one-column analysis of PAHs with PCBs and terphenyls, eliminating co-elutions and false positives. Applications in rubber, plastic and electronic component testing show full separation of 18 PAHs in just 12 minutes. A fast food‐PAH method quantifies the EFSA PAH4 markers in under 10 minutes, illustrating broad method versatility.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Accelerated throughput: up to 70 % reduction in GC run times, boosting lab productivity.
• Regulatory compliance: full resolution of EU, EPA and EFSA PAH target lists and critical isomers.
• Robustness: high temperature limits (340 –360 °C) support bake-out of complex matrices and elution of heavy PAHs.
• Workflow simplification: single-column solutions for PAHs and PCBs reduce instrument downtime and data complexity.
• Versatility: validated across environmental, food, polymeric and electronic sample types.

Future Trends and Possibilities

Ongoing trends in analytical chemistry push for even faster, higher resolving separations and integration with automation and data-driven method development. Next-generation PAH analyses may leverage ultra-high-throughput GC, micro-bore columns, two-dimensional GC–MS (GC×GC), and coupling with high-resolution time-of-flight MS. Machine-learning algorithms are poised to optimize temperature programs and selectivity for tailored applications. The expanding need for non-targeted screening and quicker compliance checks will drive adoption of these specialized PAH phases in routine and research laboratories.

Conclusion

Zebron ZB-PAH-EU and ZB-PAH-SeleCT GC columns deliver unprecedented speed, selectivity and temperature stability for PAH analysis. By resolving critical isomer pairs, reducing analysis times, and simplifying multi-class separations, these phases empower laboratories to meet regulatory demands and enhance workflow efficiency across diverse sample types.