A quasi non-destructive approach for amber geological provenance assessment based on head space solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Head space (HS) solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to analyze the volatile fraction of ambers of different geological origin. In particular, Romanian (romanite) and Baltic (succinite) amber samples were studied. Both types of amber...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Talanta (Oxford) 2014-02, Vol.119, p.435-439
Main Authors: van der Werf, I.D., Aresta, A., Truică, G.I., Radu, G.L., Palmisano, F., Sabbatini, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amber
Assessments
Differentiation
Gas chromatography
Geological origin
Geology
Mass spectrometry
Nondestructive testing
Origins
Solid phase micro-extraction
Spectrometry
Spectroscopy
Volatile fraction
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Summary:Head space (HS) solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to analyze the volatile fraction of ambers of different geological origin. In particular, Romanian (romanite) and Baltic (succinite) amber samples were studied. Both types of amber have nearly similar bulk chemical compositions and could probably reflect only some differences of paleobiological and/or diagenetic origin. The present study shows that amber head space fingerprint, obtained by SPME/GC–MS, can provide a simple and quasi non-destructive method capable of romanite/succinite differentiation. Among the numerous compounds present in the head space, a number of few informative variables could be selected that were able to differentiate the ambers as demonstrated by Principal Component and Cluster Analysis. [Display omitted] •SPME–GC/MS was used to analyze the volatile fraction of Romanian and Baltic ambers.•Amber head space fingerprint as quasi non-destructive method for amber differentiation.•Marker molecules and PCA of volatile compounds' abundances allowed for distinction.
ISSN:0039-9140
1873-3573
DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2013.11.051