Quantitative Separation of Volatile Fatty Acids by High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Volatile fatty acids (acetic, propionic, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric) are separated isocratically on a reverse phase C₁₈ μBONDAPAK column in less than 20 min. The eluent was 0.01 M NaH₂PO₄ buffer, pH 3.5, containing 10% methanol. Separations were monitored by UV absorption at 210 nm. Peak height measurements gave quantitative linear responses from 0.25 μmole to 2.50 μmole of each acid.