Anhydrosugars besides sugar alcohols and sugars on a microbore column

Importance of the Topic

The quantification of saccharidic tracers such as levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan in atmospheric aerosols is critical for distinguishing biomass burning emissions from other biogenic sources. Seasonal variations in these markers help environmental scientists and policy makers assess air quality, source contributions and the impact of residential heating on human health.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note aims to present a robust ion chromatographic method coupled with pulsed amperometric detection (PAD) for the separation and quantification of eleven sugar‐related compounds collected on air filters. The study demonstrates optimal chromatographic conditions to achieve high sensitivity and resolution for both biomass burning tracers and common biogenic sugars.

Methodology

Eluent and Chromatographic Conditions:

• Eluent: 10.0 mmol/L sodium hydroxide
• Flow rate: 0.13 mL/min
• Injection volume: 20 µL
• Column temperature: 45 °C
• Run time: 100 min
• Column: Metrosep Carb 2 - 250/2.0 with Metrosep Carb 2 Guard/2.0 and Metrosep CO3 Trap 1 - 100/4.0

Pulsed Amperometric Detection Settings:

• Cell type: Wall-Jet cell for anion analysis
• Working electrode: Gold (3 mm)
• Reference electrode: Palladium
• Spacer thickness: 50 µm
• Measurement potential: 50 mV
• Measurement range: 200 µA
• Measurement duration: 100 ms; cycle duration: 550 ms
• Detector temperature: 32 °C; mode: PAD

Used Instrumentation

• 930 Compact IC Flex Oven/Degasser
• IC Amperometric Detector
• 858 Professional Sample Processor
• IC equipment Wall-Jet cell for anion analysis (Au, Pd)

Main Results and Discussion

Standard solutions containing eleven analytes (inositol, arabitol, sorbitol, mannitol, levoglucosan, mannosan, galactosan, rhamnose, glucose, xylose and sucrose) were resolved with excellent peak shape and baseline stability. Concentration ranges in the standard mix varied from 10 µg/L (inositol) to 150 µg/L (glucose, xylose, sucrose). The method achieved clear separation of structural isomers such as levoglucosan and mannosan and delivered high sensitivity essential for low-level ambient measurements.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This IC-PAD method enables:

• Reliable source apportionment of biomass burning versus biogenic emissions.
• Seasonal monitoring of particulate saccharides to inform air quality management.
• High selectivity without derivatization, reducing sample preparation time.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements may include coupling with high-resolution mass spectrometry for structural elucidation, miniaturization of PAD detectors for field-deployable monitoring, and integration into continuous air monitoring platforms to capture real-time variations in saccharidic tracers.

Conclusion

The presented method combines robust chromatographic separation on a Metrosep Carb 2 column with sensitive pulsed amperometric detection to quantify key sugar tracers in atmospheric aerosols. It offers a practical analytical solution for environmental research, regulatory monitoring and source apportionment studies.

References

No external literature references were provided in the source document.