Optimization of phenolic compounds analysis by capillary electrophoresis

Operational parameters like migration time, temperature, voltage, composition of background electrolyte and content of organic modifier were optimized in CZE for the determination of lignin-like phenolic compounds.The applied background electrolyte buffer consisted of a Na₂B₄O₇, KH₂PO₄ aqueous solution, pH 9.15 using acetonitrile as organic modifier with UV-detection. Compounds, such as acetosyringone, acetovanillone, syringealdehyde, p-hydroxyacetophenone, vanillin, syringic acid, ferulic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid were applied as reference compounds.The quality and quantity of different phenolic compounds obtained upon alkaline CuO oxidation of a commercial humic acid were determined with CZE using ethylvanillin as internal standard.The optimized CZE revealed has being an appropriate method since it is quick, sensitive and quantitative and does not require a time-consuming sample preparation.