HPLC is a common analytical tool for the structural characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM), but traditional detectors such as UV and fluorescence (FLD) lack overall quantification.  TOC analyzers provide quantitative information but are hindered by sensitivity.  In this presentation, we demonstrate the use of a charged aerosol detector (CAD) for DOM analysis.  CAD generates near-uniform response to analytes, regardless of chemical functionality, with detection limits substantially lower than TOC analyzers.  Analyses of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA), humic acid (SRHA) and effluent organic matter (EfOM) with HPLC-UV-FLD-CAD illustrate great variability in the chemical nature of material eluted from size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC).  More dimensions of physicochemical characterization may help to elucidate structural variations both between fractions and between samples.  Initial studies with the HPLC-CAD system clearly illustrate the importance of CAD in identifying significant fractions of organic material with very little absorbance or fluorescence.

Novel application of HPLC with online charged aerosol detection for the structural characterization of dissolved organic matter

245th National Meeting (2013)

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