Rapid determination of phytanic acid in human blood serum by selectivity tuning in packed column SFC

Abstract

SummaryA new packed column SFC method has been developed for the determination of phytanic acid in human blood serum. Because of the low viscosity and high diffusion coefficient of supercritical carbon dioxide, several columns can be connected in series, significantly improving separation. Series connection of columns which differ in their selectivity enables the adjustment of the total selectivity towards the individual separation problem ('selectivity tuning'). In this instance it was possible, after transesterification into their ethyl esters, to separate all the fatty acids in human blood serum, including phytanic acid, by coupling three columns (silica, aminopropyl, and RP8) in series.

Supercritical Fluid Chromatography and Extraction

“…Lembke and Engelhardt capitalized on the lower viscosity of the SFC mobile phase in their determination of the ethyl ester of phytanic acid extracted from human blood serum (269). They coupled three different columns in series (silica, aminopropylbonded silica, and C 8 -bonded silica) to improve the separation, a move they called "selectivity tuning".…”