Determination of the carboxylic acids in acidic and basic process samples by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect UV detection was used in developing a method for the simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, aliphatic and heterocyclic organic acids in various processed samples. The analytes were determined simultaneously in 10 min using an electrolyte containing 20mM 2,3-pyrazine dicarboxylic acid, 65mM tricine, 2mM BaCl(2), 0.5mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and 2M urea at pH 8.06. Linear plots for the analytes were obtained in the concentration range of 2-150 mg L(-1). Relative standard deviations (RSDs) of peak areas during a 3-day analysis period varied from 5.5% for glycolate to 9.5% for oxalate. RSDs of migration times varied between 0.4% and 1.1%. The detection limit (at S/N 3) was 1 mg L(-1) for all the analytes studied. The proposed method was successfully demonstrated for the determination of carboxylic acids in eight oxygen treated samples of commercial softwood and hardwood kraft lignin and two red wine samples of Pinot Noir grapes. In the kraft lignin samples the concentrations of carboxylic acids correspond to the oxidation time. The acid concentrations of wine varied considerable. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.