Determination of glycols in potable water and alcoholic beverages by gas chromatography and chromatography-mass spectrometry

Toxic ethylene and diethylene glycols, and also ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, and glycerol were determined in alcoholic beverages and potable water by gas chromatography and chromatography-mass spectrometry simultaneously with other components of alcoholic beverages (higher alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, and volatile fatty acids). It was demonstrated that the chromatographic profile of glycols can serve as the identification criterion for the authentication of alcoholic beverages. The analyses were performed using HPFFAP open tubular columns with a length of 5 and 25 m and an inner diameter of 0.32 mm. Before the analysis, samples of wine were treated with activated carbon to remove high-molecular components. The detection limit of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in potable water after sample preconcentration by evaporation in a nitrogen flow is 0.2 mg/L.