Improved analysis of melamine-formaldehyde resins by capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry using ion-trap and quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometers

An improved method based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled to either ion-trap (IT) mass spectrometry (MS) or quadrupole-time-of-flight (Q-TOF) MS for the analysis of melamine-formaldehyde condensates is presented. Employing a formic acid-based electrolyte containing 50% acetonitrile (ACN) and MS detection up to 13 compounds could be determined in lab-made resins, synthesized by mixing formaldehyde and melamine in different ratios ranging from 1:1.5 to 1:4. The use of a Q-TOF-MS for detection allowed the assignment of molecular formulas for all 13 substances with high accuracy.