Application of high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detection and mass spectrometry to the analysis of characteristic compounds in various essential oils

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established using an analytical reversed-phase column and gradient elution to achieve chromatographic separation of typical compounds in essential oils. For detection, a diode array detector monitoring different wavelengths simultaneously as well as a mass spectrometer (MS) were used. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization operating in the positive mode turned out to be a suitable tool to detect volatiles of different chemical classes and to identify them in essential oil matrices. Characteristic fingerprints of eucalyptus, lavender, may chang, pine, rosemary, thyme, and turpentine essential oils monitored at a representative wavelength (220 nm) demonstrated the suitability of HPLC in essential oil analysis. Additional monitoring wavelengths (210, 250, and 280 nm) provided useful information about the identity of the specific component and opened the possibility to differentiate presumably coeluting compounds by means of their distinct absorption behavior. Finally, peak assignment in seven essential oils was performed on the basis of characteristic retention times and UV and MS data of a broad set of reference volatiles.