The volatile composition of beer and wine is best analyzed by GC or GC-MS with a polar capillary column such as Wax or FFAP stationary phase column, due to high concentrations of alcohols and volatile fatty acids in the sample.  However, such phases are not thermally stable and resulting in high background noise at elevated temperature.   It is desirable to have a column with high polarity and thermal stability for volatile analysis using GC-MS.  Ionic liquids are a class of compounds consists of organic cations associated with inorganic or organic anions.  They are very polar and have low volatility.  Several ionic liquid (SLB) capillary GC columns were studied for the suitability of volatile analysis in beer and wine.  The results showed that SLB columns can separate most volatile compounds effectively, and have very good thermal stability.  However, the SLB columns tested have too strong interactions with acids (octanoic  and decanoic acids), resulting in poor chromatography for these compounds.

Challenges of ionic liquid GC column for beer and wine volatile analysis

244th National Meeting (2012)

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