Quantitative analysis of trace levels of β-ionone in water by liquid-liquid-phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (LLE-GC-MS)

Abstract

A simple and rapid technique based on liquid−liquid extraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric detection (LLE-GC-MS) was developed for analysis of taste and odour compound β-ionone in water. Instrument parameters including programmed oven temperature, injection temperature and ion source temperature were evaluated and optimized. Effects of extraction time, ionic strength and pH on the detection efficiency were investigated and optimum conditions were 8 min of extraction time, without NaCl addition at pH=9. Good linearity (R 2 =0.9997) was obtained when the linear range was 10−500 μg/L. The recoveries of β-ionone in ultrapure water and tap water samples were 88%−95% and 110%−114%, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 10%. The method detection limit (MDL) and rejection quality level (RQL) were achieved at 1.98 μg/L and 6.53 μg/L, respectively. LLE-GC-MS was demonstrated to be a rapid and convenient method for the determination of β-ionone in water samples.