Purge-and-trap preconcentration system coupled to capillary gas chromatography with atomic emission detection for 2,4,6-trichloroanisole determination in cork stoppers and wines

A method based on solvent extraction and purge-and-trap capillary gas chromatography with atomic emission detection (PT-GC–AED) for the determination of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) in wines and cork stoppers was optimized and evaluated. TCA was previously extracted from the samples in pentane and the preconcentrated extract was reconstituted in water before being injected into the chromatograph by means of the PT system. Element-specific detection and quantification was carried out by monitoring the chlorine (479 nm) emission line. Two different calibration graphs were used to quantify TCA in the cork or the wine samples, owing to the interference produced by the ethanol content in the wines. Detection limits of 25 pg g−1 and 5 ng l−1 were obtained for corks and wines, respectively. The method provided recoveries from spiked samples ranging from 88.5 to 102.3%, confirming the reliability of the procedure and its suitability for routine monitoring.