Optimization of RP‐HPLC Analysis of Low Molecular Weight Organic Acids in Soil

Abstract

RP‐HPLC analysis for low molecular weight organic acids in soil solution has been optimized. An Atlantis™ C₁₈ column was used for the analyses. An optimal determination for eleven organic acids in soil solution was found at room temperature (25°C) and 220 nm detection wavelength, with a mobile phase of 10 mM KH₂PO₄–CH₃OH (95∶5, pH 2.7), a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and 10 µL sample size. The detection limits ranged 3.2–619 ng/mL, the coefficients of variation ranged 1.3–4.6%, and the recoveries ranged 95.6–106.3% for soil solution with standard addition on the optimal conditions proposed.

Keywords:

• Low molecular weight organic acid
• Optimization
• Soil solution

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the National Basic Research Program of China from MOST (2005CB121107), the National Science foundation of China (40371067), and the Key Project of Knowledge Innovation System of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX3‐SW‐417).