Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers. 7. analysis of fatty alcohol ethoxylates by coupled liquid chromatography at the critical point of adsorption and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry

Fatty alcohol ethoxylates can be analyzed efficiently with respect to functionality and molar mass by coupled liquid chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Both techniques are coupled via a robotic interface, where the matrix is coaxially added to the eluate and spotted dropwise onto the MALDI target. It is shown that liquid chromatography at critical conditions of adsorption coupled to MALDI-TOF yield useful structural information on oligomer masses and chemical composition. In particular, the analysis of technical fatty alcohol ethoxylates by LC-CC/MALDI-TOF reveals the presence of different functionality fractions in one sample. The oligomer distributions of all functionality fractions are determined.