Dioxins S3 - Smart Solution Systems

Significance of the Topic

Accurate determination of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is critical for environmental monitoring, food safety, and compliance with strict regulatory limits. These persistent organic pollutants pose serious health risks even at trace levels, driving the need for sensitive, reliable and high-throughput analytical workflows.

Objectives and Overview of the Combined Solution

This application note presents a fully integrated workflow combining BUCHI, MIURA and Shimadzu instruments to streamline sample preparation, clean-up and GC-MS/MS analysis of dioxins and PCBs, even in challenging fatty matrices. The goal is to maximize automation, minimize solvent consumption, and achieve robust trace-level quantification with high sample throughput.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The integrated approach consists of:

• Pressurized Solvent Extraction (BUCHI SpeedExtractor E-914/E-916): Parallel extraction of up to six samples in 30 minutes, accommodating sample volumes from 1 to 120 mL. Automated cell sealing enhances safety and reproducibility.
• Automated Clean-Up (MIURA GO-2EHT/4EHT/6EHT): Valveless flow paths eliminate cross contamination. Surface-treated adsorption columns enable efficient fractionation. Solvent usage is reduced by up to 70 %, delivering 1 mL pre-cleaned extracts with minimal manual handling.
• GC-MS/MS Analysis (Shimadzu GCMS-TQ NX Series): Ultra Fast Mass Spectrometry (UFMS) supports up to 32 000 transitions per run. “Smart MRM” automates method setup, while the Smart Environment Database (527 components) facilitates multi-component quantitation. An advanced ion source and collision cell ensure low detection limits and high data quality.

Main Results and Discussion

The combined workflow delivers:

• Reduced time to result through simultaneous extraction and evaporation.
• Significant solvent savings (90 mL/sample vs. >100 mL) and lower consumable costs.
• High-throughput multi-component analysis with robust trace-level performance.
• Elimination of carry-over and cross contamination via disposable tubing and valveless design.

Practical Benefits and Applications

Laboratories benefit from:

• Improved return on investment due to faster turnaround and reduced reagent costs.
• Simplified workflows and lower operator workload.
• Reliable compliance with regulatory requirements across diverse sample matrices.
• Scalability from routine quality control to advanced research applications.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging developments are expected in deeper automation, implementation of greener solvent alternatives, integration with AI-driven data analytics, miniaturization of workflows, and expansion to other emerging organic pollutants. Such advancements will further enhance efficiency and data quality.

Conclusion

The synergy of BUCHI SpeedExtractor, MIURA clean-up systems and Shimadzu GCMS-TQ NX offers a robust, cost-effective and high-throughput solution for precise dioxin and PCB analysis. This end-to-end approach meets modern laboratory demands, optimizes resource use and ensures compliance with stringent regulatory standards.

Reference

Application note SEG-A-098, BUCHI, MIURA and Shimadzu, 2020.