DETERMINATION OF HIGHLY POLAR COMPOUNDS IN REACTION MIXTURES OF 2,2-BIS(HYDROXYMETHYL)PROPIONIC ACID AND 3-HYDROXY-2,2- BIS(HYDROXYMETHYL)PROPIONIC ACID BY HPLC

Abstract

A liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantitative determination of the compounds present in the reaction mixtures producing highly polar hydroxy carboxylic acids bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid and 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-ol propionic acid. Two columns with different separation mechanisms are connected in series; thus, an efficient separation of polyol, hydroxy aldehyde, and hydroxy acid is achieved. The separated compounds are detected by UV/DAD and RI detectors.

Keywords:

• Liquid chromatography
• Hydroxy acid
• Hydroxy aldehyde
• Polyol
• UV detector
• RI detector

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Håkan Rahkola from Neste Chemicals Oy, and Jari Karppanen from University of Helsinki, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, for samples and reference standards, as well as Anja Koski, Marita Aaljoki, Sirpa Hägg, and Elisa Haatainen from Fortum Oil and Gas Oy for technical assistance.