The pairing of two-dimensional liquid chromatography and electrochemical surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy to provide enhanced separation and detection of complex mixtures

Abstract

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) and green tea are known complex substances requiring advanced separation techniques and ultrasensitive detection methods for characterization and identification. DOM is ubiquitous in water bodies and participates in the global carbon cycle, undergoing complex transformation through photochemical and microbial processes. Green tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and is rich in polyphenolic compounds. Separation and identification of components in green tea is useful for gauging tea quality. In this work, 2D-LC and EC-SERS were explored for the first time to analyze compounds in DOM and green tea. 2D-LC offers enhanced separation compared to conventional HPLC systems since there are two dimensions present. EC-SERS was used as an offline detection modality to help identify the compounds in DOM and green tea. 2D-LC-EC-SERS was successfully performed for green tea and preliminary work was conducted for DOM taken from the Sackville River.