Resin and fatty-acid analysis by solid-phase extraction coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–mass spectrometry

Abstract

Using gas-chromatographic analysis, the suitability of liquid–liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods was studied for the rapid separation of resin and fatty-acid fractions from papermaking process waters. In the second phase of this study, a novel procedure (correlation coefficient >0.99 and repeatability RSD <8%) for on-line monitoring of selected individual acid components (limits of detection 11–78 µg L⁻¹) by SPE combined with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–mass spectrometry was developed. The suitability of this technique for quality control of papermaking process waters was tested by means of industrial samples. The method was also found suitable for the analysis of resin and fatty acids in receiving waters of pulp and paper mills.

Keywords:

• Resin acids
• Fatty acids
• Solid-phase extraction
• Mass spectrometry
• Process waters
• On-line measurement

Acknowledgements

The financial support from the National Technology Agency (Tekes), the Science Park Ltd of Jyväskylä, KCL Science and Consulting, UMP-Kymmene Oyj, Kemira Chemicals, Metso Corporation, the Finnish Ministry of Education, and Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are due to Ms Heidi Ahkola, for her skilful assistance with the SPE analyses.