[Case Study] High-Precision PAH Quantification in Edible Oils Using High-Resolution GCMS

Achieving accurate and highly sensitive quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using high-resolution GC-MS.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are components generated from the heating of organic materials, and due to concerns about their carcinogenicity and other health effects, PAHs present in food are regulated in some countries and regions. In particular, edible oils may undergo heating as a pretreatment during extraction from raw materials, which raises the possibility that PAHs could be generated during the thermal processing, even if the raw materials themselves do not contain PAHs. Since various countries have established standard values for PAHs, safety inspections may be required when exporting food abroad. These standard values are becoming stricter year by year, and high-sensitivity detection measurement devices are needed to accurately quantify these standard values. This application note presents a case of highly sensitive quantification of PAHs without interference from matrix components, achieved using the high mass resolution and mass accuracy of the Orbitrap GC-M system, a high-resolution GCMS. Data acquisition is performed through full scan measurements, making method development easier and enabling retrospective analysis (such as checking whether newly regulated components were present in previously measured samples).

Analytical Equipment and Devices