Liquid chromatographic analysis of C-1-C-10 carbonyls

Retention times, response factors, uv-visible spectra and chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra are presented for 2,4-dinitrophenylhyrazine (DNPH) derivatives of C-1-C-10 carbonyls analysed by liquid chromatography (LC) with uv detection, LC-diode array detection and on-line LC-mass spectrometry using C-18 columns and acetonitrile-water eluent. The forty two carbonyls studied include aliphatic aldehydes (saturated and unsaturated), aliphatic ketones (saturated and unsaturated), aromatic aldehydes, hydroxycarbonyls, ore-acids and dicarbonyls. A correlation was obtained between response factors (R(f) = peak height for 1 mu g/mL carbonyl) and retention times (t(R)), log R(f)=(-1.33 +/- 0.05) log t(R) + (2.98 +/- 0.05), R = 0.985, n = 28. LC-diode array and LC-MS analysis have been used to show that beta-hydroxycarbonyls yield the DNPH derivatives of the corresponding dicarbonyls. The results are of diagnostic value to identify and measure carbonyls at low concentrations in complex environmental mixtures including ambient air.