A fast method for determining low-molecular-mass aliphatic carboxylic acids by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A fast quantitative high-performance liquid chromatographic separation method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-APCI-MS) was developed for the determination of low-molecular-mass aliphatic mono- and dicarboxylic acids typically present in different industrial process waters. A mixture of glycolic, lactic, a-glucoisosaccharinic, oxalic, maleic, fumaric, succinic, malic, glutaric, methylsuccinic, and adipic acids was separated using an RP chromatographic system. Adipic acid was used as an internal standard to calculate correlation coefficients for the acids studied. The chromatographic analysis of these acids was primarily carried out by means of gradient elution with an aqueous formic acid solution (0.15%, pH 2.5) and methanol using a modified C18 stationary phase. Good acid separation could be obtained for all acids by optimizing the chromatographic conditions. The method provides a simple sample preparation and faster analysis time compared to the traditional gas chromatographic methods, thus enabling almost real-time monitoring of these acids. Finally, the method developed was applied to the analysis of a complex mixture of aliphatic hydroxy carboxylic acids, which are formed as alkaline degradation products of carbohydrates during wood delignification and are present in the cooking spent liquor (black liquor).     

Potential of gas chromatography in the determination of low-volatile dicarboxylic acids

The analysis of published data shows that the results of the gas chromatographic determination of low-volatile polar aliphatic dicarboxylic acids are rather poorly reproducible. A considerable part of the published values of their retention indices appears to be erroneous. The experimental verification of the capabilities of gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry demonstrates that some of the compounds of this series (for example, glutaric acid) can be determined without decomposition; others are characterized by the formation of products of interaction with solvents (oxalic acid), and in some cases, the only detectable moieties are products of thermal degradation (citric acid).     

Separation of peroxidation products of diacyl-phosphatidylcholines by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Lipid peroxidation process has attracted much attention due to the growing evidence of its involvement in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases. The monitoring of the lipid peroxidation products in phospholipids, formed under oxidative stress conditions, may provide new markers for oxidative stress signaling and for disease states, giving new insights in the pathogenesis process. Reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method coupled to mass spectrometry was developed for the separation of oxidized glycero-phosphatidylcholine (GPC) peroxidation products formed by the Fenton reaction that mimic in vivo oxidative stress conditions. The LC-MS conditions were applied for the separation of peroxidation products of oleoyl- (POPC), lineloyl- (PLPC) and arachidonoyl-palmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (PAPC). The peroxidation products separated included products resulting from the insertion of oxygen atoms in the sn-2 chain (long-chain), and products with the sn-2 chain shortened resulting from cleavage of oxygen-centered radicals (short-chain). Among long-chain products were the keto, hydroxy, hydroperoxide and poly-hydroxy derivatives, while short-chain products included dicarboxylic acids, aldehydes and hydroxy-aldehydes. Separation of long-chain products formed in each phosphatidylcholine was observed, and the reconstructed ion chromatogram of each ion showed an increase in the number of peaks with the increase in the number of oxygen atoms inserted into the phospholipid. Separation of short-chain products took place according to the functional group present at the sn-2 moiety that allowed the elution of dicarboxylic acids distinct from aldehydes. Separation between isomeric structures that were present in short- and long-chain products was also achieved.     

Chromatographic properties of the ion-exclusion column IonPac ICE-AS6 and its application in environmental analysis, Part II: application in environmental analysis

Biological processes, geochemical reactions, anthropogenic emissions, and transformation reactions of xenobiotics are responsible for the widespread occurrence of aliphatic carboxylic acids in the environment. To study the performance of the ion-exclusion chromatography column IonPac ICE-AS6 in the analysis of environmental and environmental-technical samples, organic acids are investigated in composting seepage, silage effluents, aqueous extracts of sewage sludge, molasses hydrolysate, and alkaline cellulose hydrolysates. With respect to the diverse sample matrix and composition, different chromatographic conditions are applied. It is possible to determine various volatile fatty acids, dicarboxylic acids, (poly)hydroxy acids, and keto acids as main and trace components in samples with very high and low dissolved organic carbon content. Low baseline noise allows the determination of malic and succinic acid in the concentration range of approximately 1 microM/L in the presence of higher concentrations of fully ionized compounds. The applicability of the column in environmental analysis may be limited by the poor retardation of strong organic acids, insufficient separation of some relevant substance combinations (i.e., citric and isocitric acid), and very strong hydrophobic interactions with straight-chain monocarboxylic acids containing four or more carbon atoms.     

Determination of low-molecular-mass aliphatic carboxylic acids and inorganic anions from kraft black liquors by ion chromatography

An ion chromatographic (IC) method with suppressed conductivity detection (CD) was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of several low-molecular-mass aliphatic mono- and dicarboxylic acids as their carboxylate anions together with some inorganic anions (chloride, sulfate, and thiosulfate) from kraft black liquors. To confirm the identification of some carboxylate anions which lack commercial model substances, a qualitative IC method with suppressed electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was also developed. The separations were performed on an IonPac AS 11-HC anion-exchange column operated at 25 degrees C within 25 min by a gradient elution with aqueous potassium hydroxide (suppressed CD in the AutoRegen mode) or sodium hydroxide (suppressed ESI-MS in the pressurized bottle mode). In the validation process a mixture of carboxylic acids and inorganic anions in aqueous media and in seven different types of wood and non-wood black liquor samples were quantitatively analyzed by IC-CD. As a result, calibration lines with correlation coefficients of 1.00 for all analytes were achieved at a concentration range from 0.05 to 105 mg L(-1). In black liquor samples intra-day (n=6) precision values ranged from 0.9 to 5%. Day-to-day (n1=3) and intermediate precision values were less than 5% for all other compounds except sulfate and thiosulfate. The variability in the thiosulfate and sulfate results is due in large part to the oxidation of sulfide and thiosulfate, respectively. Recoveries were close to 100% with standard deviations less than 8%. Depending of the analyte, the limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, between 1 and 8 microg L(-1) and between 3 and 27 microg L(-1) for standard compounds in aqueous media and between 6 and 106 microg L(-1) and between 14 and 148 microg L(-1) for black liquor samples. These validation results clearly indicated that with respect to selectivity, linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, and accuracy, the IC-CD method showed good applicability in the determinations described above.     

Optimization of Liquid Chromatography and Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography for the Determination of Atrazine and its First Degradation Products in Humic Waters Without Sample Preparation

Liquid chromatographic method and micellar electrokinetic chromatographic method were optimized for determination of atrazine, desethylatrazine, desisopropylatrazine, hydroxyatrazine and their polar degradation products in solutions with humic acid without previous sample preparation step. Reversed-phase HPLC method was satisfactory in terms of repeatability and detection limits, which were ± 1.7–12.5% (RSD) and 0.1–0.5 mg L^?1, respectively. However, the most polar products could not be separated from the front peak pertaining to humic acid. With MEKC, excellent separation of both chloro and hydroxy degradation products and parent compounds was achieved in a single analysis, and possible interferences of humic acid were successfully avoided by its retention at the anode. Drawbacks were detection limits, estimated to be 2–4 mg L^?1, and RSD of the migration times was 20% compared to 0.5% with HPLC method. HPLC method was used to monitor degradation of atrazine and its first degradation products in the presence of humic acids, and MEKC was used for confirmation purposes.     

Oligoesters on the basis of hydroxyethylated derivatives of 4,4′-(propan-2,2-diyl)diphenol

Equilibrium melt polycondensation was used to synthesize a series of oligoethers containing end hydroxy groups, starting with hydroxyethylated derivatives of 4,4′-(propan-2,2-diyl)diphenol and saturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acids. The structure of the oligoethers was assigned, and their physicochemical characteristics and thermal stability were determined.     

Solid-phase extraction and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric identification of degradation products from enhanced environmentally degradable polyethylene

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method using unbonded silica (Si) and silica bonded with octadecyl (C₁₈) or aminopropyl (NH₂) groups was developed to separate into five fractions the highly complex mixture of low-molecular-mass degradation products formed from degradable polymers. Application of the method to polyethylene modified with starch and/or a pro-oxidant system, degraded for 30 weeks in water at 95°C, enabled the identification by GC-MS of over three times as many products as when the sample was prepared by liquid-liquid extraction. Over 60 degradation products were identified in each sample; mainly dicarboxylic acids, monocarboxylic acids and n-alkanes. In addition, several lactones, aldehydes and alcohols were detected.     

高效毛细管电泳用于油田水及甘酪根水热降解物中有机酸分析

采用高效毛细管电泳分离，以间接检测方法对低碳一元及二元羧酸进行分析。结果表明：５种脂肪族一元及二元羧酸６ｍｉｎ内可获得完全分离。本法用于测定油田水及甘酪根降解物中的有机酸，结果与反相高效液相色谱所得结果相吻合。     

Insights into coal structure from degradation with ruthenium tetroxide and tandem mass spectrometry

The products of ruthenium tetroxid oxidation of coal (Illinois No. 2) at ambient temperature were examined by tandem mass spectrometry using positive and negative chemical ionization. The negative-ion mass spectrum of the coal sample displays seven homologous series of ions. Individual compounds were characterized by recording daughter spectra. In this way, the following types of compounds were identified: aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids, anhydrides of the di- and tri-carboxylic acids, and dianhydrides corresponding to the tetracarboxylic aromatic acids. The positive-ion mass and daughter spectra provided additional confirmation. Two series of ions dominate the positive-ion mass spectrum, those from the aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, and the corresponding anhydrides. The fragmentation behavior of model compounds was examined to confirm these assignments. The carboxylic acids and anhydrides identified suggest the presence of particular structural features in the coal prior to oxidation. These include C₂–C₆ aliphatic bridges between aromatic units, fused ring aromatic structures, tetralin and indan structures.     

GC identification of organic compounds based on partition coefficients of their TMS derivatives in a hexane-acetonitrile system and retention indices.

This paper reports the experimentally determined and calculated partition coefficients (Kp) in a heterogeneous system consisting of two partially mixing organic solvents for trimethylsilyl derivatives of 119 compounds including phenols, phenolcarboxylic acids, mono- and dicarboxylic acids, and some carbohydrates and polyols. It was demonstrated that a simple model based on the available physico-chemical properties of molecules can be used to accurately predict the hexane-acetonitrile partition coefficients. Phenols, other organic acids, and carbohydrates form complex mixtures in extracts of plant tissues, in various biological fluids, as well as in waste waters. For group identification of these mixture components, it is desirable to use the parameterj which is a combination of Kp and gas chromatographic retention indices: j = kI - log Kp. This approach increases identification reliability in gas chromatographic analysis. The use of the group parameterj in the analysis of nonvolatile organic components of waste waters is reported.     

Dimethylaminoethyl esters for trace, rapid analysis of fatty acids by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

The development of a new derivative, the dimethylaminoethyl ester, for the analysis of fatty acids by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry is described. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of long to very long chain fatty acids in plasma, blood, urine and wax were performed. Branched chain, unsaturated, dicarboxylic, hydroxy, amino and keto acids were studied. The quantitative analysis method using the new derivative is simple, rapid and precise with small sample size. It has good potential as a screening method for biologically important fatty acids. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Screening method for organic aciduria by spectrofluorometric measurement of total dicarboxylic acids in human urine based on intramolecular excimer-forming fluorescence derivatization

A simple screening method of organic aciduria by spectrofluorometric measurement of total dicarboxylic acids in human urine is described. This method is based on an intramolecular excimer-forming fluorescence derivatization with a pyrene reagent, 4-(1-pyrene)butanoic acid hydrazide (PBH). Dicarboxylic acids in urine were converted to the corresponding dipyrene-labeled derivatives by reaction with PBH in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and pyridine, and the derivatives afforded intramolecular excimer fluorescence (420-540 nm) which can clearly be discriminated from the normal fluorescence (360-420 nm) emitted from reagent blanks. The technique is so selective that it permits spectrofluorometric measurement of total amount of dicarboxylic acids by the direct derivatization of diluted urine samples. The same reaction mixture has also served as a liquid chromatographic (LC) sample for the separative determination of individual dicarboxylic acids. The spectrofluorometric data did not contradict with the LC data. These methods were usefully applied to preliminary screening test of glutaric aciduria. In conclusion, the present derivatization method allows rapid and direct determination of total amount of dicarboxylic acids in human urine samples.     

孤岛油田含聚污水中酸性组分的分离与组成结构研究

采用石油醚和三氯甲烷分级萃取孤岛油田含聚污水中的油分,得到两个不同极性的组分F1和F2;用碱抽提法从酸值较高的F2组分中分离酸性物质并将其甲酯化,通过柱层析法将甲酯化物分成Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ三个甲酯组分。用元素分析、红外光谱分析等对上述各组分的组成及结构进行鉴定,对甲酯组分Ⅰ进行GC MS 结构鉴定。结果表明,含聚污水中酸性乳化活性物质主要富集在F2组分中,降解HPAM是酸性物质的主要的组成部分;甲酯组分Ⅰ主要为石油酸甲酯,甲酯组分Ⅱ主要为含酰胺基的脂肪酸甲酯,甲酯组分Ⅲ除含有较多酰胺基脂肪酸甲酯外,还含有一定量的强极性含硫化合物;孤岛油田含聚污水中的轻质石油酸以单环环烷酸、四环环烷酸和脂肪酸为主,其中环烷酸的含量明显大于脂肪酸的含量。脂肪酸以C16和C18为主,单环环烷酸以C14~18为主,四环环烷酸以C18~21为主。     

Improving GC-MS screening analysis by functional-group-related silica gel fractionation of industrial wastewater extracts

The separation of the components of complex industrial waste water extracts according to their functional groups has been accomplished by use of small silica gel columns eluted with a hexane – dichloromethane – methanol gradient. The six fractions obtained covered a polarity range from aliphatic fatty acids to (aromatic) polyhydroxy and polyether compounds. Recovery of model compounds was between 75 and 105%. Used prior to GC-MS analysis this fractionation substantially enhances chromatographic resolution and facilitates peak identification. The procedure was exemplarily applied to an extract of anaerobically treated tannery waste water. Phenols, aromatic acids, and aromatic and aliphatic (poly)hydroxy acids, in the low ppm range, were determined as main constituents. Since fractionation extends the range of detection, trace substances such as chlorocresol, dichlorobenzoic acid, mercaptobenzothiazole, and mercaptoacetic acid were also detectable at the ppb level.     

Determination of the carboxylic acids in acidic and basic process samples by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV detection was used in developing a method for the simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, aliphatic and heterocyclic organic acids in various processed samples. The analytes were determined simultaneously in 10 min using an electrolyte containing 20 mM 2,3-pyrazine dicarboxylic acid, 65 mM tricine, 2 mM BaCl₂, 0.5 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and 2 M urea at pH 8.06. Linear plots for the analytes were obtained in the concentration range of 2–150 mg L⁻¹. Relative standard deviations (RSDs) of peak areas during a 3-day analysis period varied from 5.5% for glycolate to 9.5% for oxalate. RSDs of migration times varied between 0.4% and 1.1%. The detection limit (at S/N 3) was 1 mg L⁻¹ for all the analytes studied. The proposed method was successfully demonstrated for the determination of carboxylic acids in eight oxygen treated samples of commercial softwood and hardwood kraft lignin and two red wine samples of Pinot Noir grapes. In the kraft lignin samples the concentrations of carboxylic acids correspond to the oxidation time. The acid concentrations of wine varied considerable.     

Determination of hydroxy acids in cosmetics by chemometric experimental design and cyclodextrin‐modified capillary electrophoresis

A CD‐modified CE method was established for quantitative determination of seven hydroxy acids in cosmetic products. This method involved chemometric experimental design aspects, including fractional factorial design and central composite design. Chemometric experimental design was used to enhance the method's separation capability and to explore the interactions between parameters. Compared to the traditional investigation that uses multiple parameters, the method that used chemometric experimental design was less time‐consuming and lower in cost. In this study, the influences of three experimental variables (phosphate concentration, surfactant concentration, and methanol percentage) on the experimental response were investigated by applying a chromatographic resolution statistic function. The optimized conditions were as follows: a running buffer of 150 mM phosphate solution (pH 7) containing 0.5 mM CTAB, 3 mM γ‐CD, and 25% methanol; 20 s sample injection at 0.5 psi; a separation voltage of ?15 kV; temperature was set at 25°C; and UV detection at 200 nm. The seven hydroxy acids were well separated in less than 10 min. The LOD (S/N = 3) was 625 nM for both salicylic acid and mandelic acid. The correlation coefficient of the regression curve was greater than 0.998. The RSD and relative error values were all less than 9.21%. After optimization and validation, this simple and rapid analysis method was considered to be established and was successfully applied to several commercial cosmetic products.     

Determination of 4-aminobutyric acid, aspartate, glutamate and glutamine and their 13C stable-isotopic enrichment in brain tissue by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A selected-ion monitoring method was developed for measuring 4-aminobutyric acid, aspartate, glutamate, and glutamine in brain tissue. Natural isotopes of these amino acids and their stable-isotopic enrichment following intravenous infusion of a precursor, [13C]glucose, were quantitated. Frozen mouse brain tissue was homogenized in cold 80% ethanol, and the supernatant, equivalent to 1 mg of wet weight brain tissue, was extracted using solid-phase bonded silica ion-exchange columns. Aspartate and glutamate (dicarboxylic acids) were isolated from strong anion-exchange columns, whereas 4-aminobutyric acid and glutamine (neutral amino acids) were isolated from strong-cation exchange columns. n-Butyl ester pentafluoropropionyl amide derivatives of these amino acids were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a methane positive chemical ionization mode after gas chromatographic separation on a wide-bore, fused-silica capillary column. The method is applicable to determination of brain concentrations of these amino acids as well as their fluxes following administration of a stable-isotopic tracer.     

Characterization of the high molecular mass chlorinated matter in spent bleach liquors (SBL): 3—Mass spectrometric interpretation of aromatic degradation products in SBL

The aromatic content of the high molecular matter in pulp mill bleachery effluents has been characterized after chemical degradation in the laboratory followed by derivatization and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis. Aromatic molecules with carboxy, hydroxy, methoxy and chloro substituents were separated and identified by recording their computer-reconstructed ion current chromatograms. About 70 aromatic carboxylic acids were tentatively identified as degradation products. Aromatic compounds with hydroxy groups were derivatized to trideuteromethoxy groups in order to distinguish them by mass spectrometry from compounds with naturally occurring methoxy groups. Single and double hydrogen atom transfer between methyl ester and methoxy groups were observed in some molecules and given special attention when they occurred ortho to each other. A methoxy group substituted ortho to a methyl carboxylate resulted in an unusual fragmentation.     

Role of the charge in continuous beds in the chiral separation of hydroxy acids by ligand-exchange capillary electrochromatography

This paper deals with the chiral separation of hydroxy acids using diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride as a positive charge-providing agent in the continuous bed. The chiral continuous bed was prepared by in situ copolymerization of monomers, including an L-4-hydroxyproline derivative as a chiral selector. This phase was applied to the chiral separation of hydroxy monocarboxylic acids and hydroxy dicarboxylic acids, respectively. The influence of both the selector concentration and the charge-providing agent on retention and separation was investigated.