Analysis of melamine resins by capillary zone electrophoresis with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric detection

Electrophoresis. 2005 Apr;26(7-8):1576-83. doi: 10.1002/elps.200410058.

Abstract

A method for the determination of the major components of (methoxymethyl)melamine resins, with quantitative analysis of unreacted melamine by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is presented. Using a low background electrolyte (BGE) pH, components are separated according to their charge/ionic radius ratio with a distinctly different separation selectivity compared to the HPLC methods commonly employed in melamine-resin analysis. The use of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) was concluded to be necessary, as the complex samples studied required maximum sensitivity and resolution, which is clearly superior for TOF-MS detectors over their quadrupole counterparts. A standard curve of free melamine was determined with an R(2) = 0.999 over a concentration range of an order of magnitude. This method offers the unique separation selectivity of CZE as well as a quicker analysis time, especially for dimers compared to the HPLC methods used to date.

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary / methods*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / instrumentation
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Triazines / analysis*

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Triazines
  • melamine