Liquid chromatography analysis of phosphonic acids on porous graphitic carbon stationary phase with evaporative light-scattering and mass spectrometry detection

The analysis of several phosphonic acids has been investigated by liquid ch romatography (LC), using porous graphitic carbon as stationary phase with m ass spectrometry (MS) or evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD). In both detection modes (MS and ELSD), the mobile phase must be volatile and, due to the porous graphitic carbon (PGC) properties, should promote electro nic interactions. Among the various hydrogeno - and perfluorocarboxylic aci ds tested, trifluoroacetic acid (0.1%, v/v) was selected as electronic comp etitor for solute retention. The baseline resolution of a phosphonic acids mixture required a trifluoroacetic-acetonitrile gradient elution. This meth odology was then applied to the identification of phosphonic acids in a spi ked tap water sample. Quantitative analyses are successfully achieved with a good correlation coefficient. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.