I need a GC-MS analysis of a fungal-bacterial dual culture. I'm going to use headspace vials to grow both of them together. Is there any requirement for suitable solvent or are there already injection ports in GC where we can directly insert VOCs?
Typically, the solvent (or buffer) should be the same as the sample, so you can reduce sample matrix effects (like ionization).
Hello Ankit Gautam
You write that you want to grow your fungal and bacterial dual culture in a headspace vial and then measure VOCs. You can simply measure the gas phase above the sample with a suitable headspace method, e.g. with a gas-tight syringe. This saves you the detour and the dilution with a solvent. Also water, which always plays a role in your cultures, is then no longer a problem (GCs are unfortunately not water-compatible). My recommendation would be to measure the samples directly after growth with a headspace sampler, or if this is not available, to do a manual headspace with a gas-tight syringe.
Good luck and best regards
Joachim Horst
As suggested by Joachim, you can also use solid-phase microextraction or single-drop microextraction for headspace collection of VOCs, and inject directly to GC-MS for separation and identification of components.
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