HPLC ANALYSIS OF FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS ON STANDARD AND NARROW-BORE COLUMNS WITH UV, ELECTROCHEMICAL AND PARTICLE-BEAM MS DETECTION

The application of different detection techniques; UV, electrochemical (ED) and particle beam-mass spectrometry (PB-MS) for the high-perform ance liquid chromatography analysis of fat-soluble vitamins were studi ed. Separation of all compounds examined was performed using both C8 s tandard-bore and narrow-bore columns for UV and MS detection, whereas in the case of HPLC-ED, a C8 standard-bore column only was used. Detec tor responses were studied in terms of linear range, detection limit a nd precision. The HPLC methods with UV, PB-MS and electrochemical dete ction were applied to the assay of vitamins A and E in an infant-formu la, powdered-milk sample. Recovery studies showed good results both fo r vitamins A and E, within-run precision being 2-4 % for LC-UV and LC- ED techniques. In addition, excellent agreement between the results ob tained with the detection systems explored was found.