Laser-induced fluorescence and UV detection of derivatized aldehydes in air samples using capillary electrophoresis.

Abstract

In this work, two capillary zone electrophoresis methodologies using UV absorption detection (214 nm) and laser-induced fluorescence detection (He/Cd laser, 325 nm excitation, 520 nm emission) of selected aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and acrolein) derivatized with dansylhydrazine (DNSH, 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfohydrazide) were proposed and validated. The aldehydes react with DNSH to form negatively charged molecules in methanolic medium. In both methodologies, nine DNSH-derivatives, including isomers of acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde and acrolein and two impurities were baseline separated in 20 mmol l(-1) phosphate buffer at pH 7.02, in less than 9 min. The limits of detection for the UV and LIF methodologies ranged from 1.1-9.5 microg l(-1) and 0.29-5.3 microg l(-1), respectively. The applicability of both methodologies to contemplate real samples was confirmed in the analysis of aldehyde-DNSH derivatives in indoor and outdoor air samples.