Rapid GC-MS Analysis of European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) PAH Compounds in Food using a Zebron™ ZB-PAH-EU GC Column

Importance of the Topic

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pose significant health risks due to their carcinogenic nature and can contaminate food products during cooking processes and from packaging materials. Regulatory bodies such as the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) require monitoring of four priority PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene) to ensure consumer safety. Effective analytical methods enabling rapid and accurate quantification are essential for food quality control and compliance in the European Union.

Objectives and Study Overview

The aim of this work is to demonstrate the capability of the Zebron ZB-PAH-EU GC column to quickly separate the EFSA PAH4 compounds from coeluting PAH interferences defined in the EU 15+1 PAH mix. Researchers evaluated three column lengths (30, 20, and 10 meters) to achieve baseline resolution and reduce analysis times, thereby enhancing throughput in routine food testing laboratories.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Samples: 10 ppm standards of EFSA PAH4 and EU 15+1 PAHs in toluene
• Injection: Split injection (5:1 or 15:1) of 1 µL at 320–330 °C
• Carrier gas: Helium, operated under constant pressure or constant flow
• Oven programs: Optimized gradients ranging from initial holds at 45–70 °C to high-temperature ramps up to 320–330 °C
• Detection: GC-MS analysis on Shimadzu GC-MS QP2010 Ultra in scan mode (50–500 m/z)
• Columns: Zebron ZB-PAH-EU dimensions: 30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.20 µm; 20 m × 0.18 mm × 0.14 µm; 10 m × 0.10 mm × 0.08 µm

Main Results and Discussion

The 30 m column provided complete baseline separation of EFSA PAH4 from each other and from critical interferences with resolution values exceeding 1.5 for key peak pairs. Shorter columns (20 m and 10 m) maintained the proprietary selectivity while reducing total run times from nearly 10 min (30 m) to as low as 10 min (10 m), offering up to three-fold speed improvements. High temperature bake-out capability (up to 360 °C) supports robust analysis of complex food matrices and minimizes ghost peaks.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid and reliable quantification of EFSA PAH4 in food samples
• High throughput analysis for routine QC and regulatory compliance
• Seamless method transfer between column dimensions
• Enhanced column lifetime and reduced carryover due to high bake-out temperatures

Future Trends and Possibilities of Use

Ongoing developments may focus on integrating advanced stationary phase chemistries, coupling ultrafast GC with high-resolution mass spectrometry, and automating sample preparation workflows. Miniaturized GC systems could further accelerate analysis while maintaining selectivity, supporting real-time monitoring of PAHs in emerging food safety applications.

Conclusion

The Zebron ZB-PAH-EU GC column series offers exceptional selectivity and efficiency for separating EFSA-recommended PAH markers from coeluting interferences. The ability to shorten analysis times without sacrificing resolution provides an effective solution for food safety laboratories seeking high throughput and reliable PAH quantification.

Reference

Phenomenex Inc. Technical Note TN-2093 Rapid GC-MS Analysis of European Food Safety Agency PAH Compounds in Food using a Zebron ZB-PAH-EU GC Column.