DETERMINATION OF PEROXYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method employing reversed-phase chromatography and amperometric detection of low levels of peroxycarboxylic acids is described. Detection limits of 0.1-0.6-mu-M and linear dynamic ranges of at least 0.05-5 mM were obtained. As a consequence of the high sensitivity and selectivity provided by the electrochemical detector, the method is well suited for detection of various peroxycarboxylic acids even in the complex matrices represented by detergent solutions. As an illustration of the applicability of the system developed, the levels of various peroxycarboxylic acids were monitored in the course of a washing cycle performed with some commercially available detergents.