I am working with some materials which are Mn+7 doped silicas. The intended purpose is that these materials will neutralize the odors associated with sulfides and mercaptans. What I've found analyzing by GCMS with SPME sampling is that loading the material with propyl mercaptan the mercaptan is promptly converted to propyl disulfide - which also probably has an odor problem. The contractor who does the Mn+7 doping claims that the mercaptans should be converted to sulfonic acids

So, my question is how to analyze for the presence of propanesulfonic acid. LC or GC, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Mike

This analyte should ionize very strongly in LC/MS, ESI negative, with some ammonium acetate for pH control. Not sure how well this will retain in reverse phase. Longer chain sulfonic acids retain well under these conditions (RP).

Our Primesep HPLC columns are designed to retain organic and inorganic acids (and residues). Primesep B and Primesep B2 columns will retain different sulfonic acids by combination of ion-exchange and reverse phase mechanism. You can use a veriety of mobile phases for elution (ACN/water/ammonium acetate or formate). Visit us at www.primesep.com for more details or call us (see website for details)

In air the oxidation product, as you found , will be disulfide. It is way less volatile and hence less stinky.

J. of Chromatography, 640 (1993) 463-471. Analysis of alkanesulfonic acids by CE.

Since propane sulfonate is without a UV chromaphore and is not very volatile, your best bet is an anion exchange separation with suppressed conductivity detection. This method provides high sensitivity and high selectivity.

Another choice is our mixed mode column (Primesep B or Primesep B2) with ELSD detector. (www.primesep.com)