Micro gas chromatography column using ionic liquid modified metal-organic framework as stationary phase for rapid breath analysis of gastric cancer

The micro gas chromatography columns (μGCs) were prepared for rapid breath analysis of gastric cancer. The synergistic effect of the specific surface area and the action of pore diameter on the separation capacity was investigated. The μGC-IL/UIO-66 was prepared using [P66614][Cl]/UIO-66 as the stationary phase. For comparison, the μGC-IL and the μGC-UIO-66 were prepared using [P66614][Cl] and UIO-66 as stationary phase, respectively. [P66614][Cl]/UIO-66 had a high specific surface area with a pore diameter distribution of 0.49 nm. The high specific surface area of [P66614][Cl]/UIO-66 improved the efficiency of adsorption and desorption, while the porous structure with an appropriate pore diameter acted as an efficient molecular sieve, synergistically enhancing separation efficiency. So compared to the μGC-IL and the μGC-UIO-66, the HETP of μGC-IL/UIO-66 was reduced by 68.2% and 22.6%, respectively. In the analysis of volatile biomarkers (acetone, benzene, n-hexane and toluene) for gastric cancer, the resolutions between adjacent peaks were 1.96, 2.13 and 3.67, which met the requirements for quantitative analysis (R > 1.5). The retention times of acetone, benzene, n-hexane and toluene were 0.72 min, 0.96 min, 1.33 min and 1.67 min, which enables rapid analysis. All may suggest that the μGC-IL/UIO-66 has a promising application in rapid breath analysis of gastric cancer.