Capillary gas chromatographic analysis of volatile and non-volatile organic acids from biological samples as the t-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives

A quantitative procedure for the analysis of volatile organic acids and lactic acid in silage is described. The samples were extracted with diethyl ether, derivatized by t-butyldimethylsilylation, and then separated by capillary gas chromatography. The same procedure was useful for the identification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of organic acids in samples such as the metabolic fermentation products of anaerobic bacteria.