Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in quantifying fatty acids

This critical overview covers current analytical methods and future developments in quantitative determination of fatty acids (FAs), emphasizing sample extraction, derivatization and instrumental analysis with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS²). We compare the benefits and the drawbacks of these two analytical techniques.We consider the well-established GC/MS method with pre-derivatization to be a traditional technique in terms of highly standardized sample-preparation procedures, affordability and readily available library searching for compound identification. However, the complicated derivatization steps required prior to instrumental analysis with GC/MS take a long time, with loss and transformation of FAs, low recovery and poor reproducibility.HPLC/MS² without derivatization shows the benefits of simple, mild sample-processing conditions, satisfactory recovery, short running time and high selectivity and sensitivity, which may allow it to become a viable alternative to GC/MS for the analysis of FAs in the years ahead.     

Novel TLC Densitometric Method for Quantification Of Solasodine in Various Solanum Species, Market Samples and Formulations

This paper describes a novel TLC densitometric method for the determination of solasodine in various Solanum species (Family Solanaceae). Solasodine does not give absorption in UV range. Hence, ion pair complex of solasodine and acid dye was spotted on TLC plates. A developing solvent with an organic acid ensured in situ color development of the complex which could be successfully quantified at 461 nm. Linearity was found to be in the range of 79.2–495 ng spot⁻¹ with correlation coefficient of 0.995. This method is reproducible, specific, eliminates post derivatization steps and the problem of background interference. The method was completely validated and applied to determine solasodine content in various herb samples, herb extract and their formulations. Accuracy of the method was found to be 98.54 ± 2.8%. No matrix interference was observed.     

HPLC separation of catecholamines after derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate

Summary Optimum conditions for the separation of 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate derivatized catecholamines by HPLC are described; three catecholamines (noradrenaline, adrenaline and dopamine) and an internal standard (epinine) were separated in less than 20 minutes under isocratic conditions. This method is 17 to 350 times more sensitive than electrochemical detection, depending on the test compounds. It has been applied to the analysis of catecholamines in urine. The sample was extracted by a metal-loaded silica prior to separation.     

Separation of some amino acids by supercritical fluid chromatography after a pre-derivatization step with classical reagents

Summary The separation of polar compounds by supercritical fluid chromatography is a difficult problem to solve. In this work, we have used a pre-derivatization method to obtain apolar or less polar compounds. Amino acids have been chosen as model polar compounds of biological interest, and 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (FMOC) and (+)-1-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate (FLEC) have been used as derivatizating reagents.With this procedure, the amino acids studied have been separated in less than 40 minutes with a good efficiency. Furthermore, with FLEC reagent, the enantiomeric separation was rapid in comparison with liquid chromatography techniques and the selectivities obtained were in the same order of magnitude.