Determination of organic acids in 1,3-propanediol fermentation broth by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography

A reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic method on a column of Kromasil C-18 (5 mu m, 250 mm x 4. 6 mm i. d.) with an eluant containing 0.2% (V/V) phosphoric acid and acetonitrile (96. 5:3. 5, V/V) was used for the analysis of organic acids in 1,3-propanediol fermentation broth. The solution of samples was pretreated with chloroform. The formic acid, lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, succinic acid and fumaric acid were completely separated and determined in 8 minutes. The flow rate of mobile phase was 1.0 mL/min and the column temperature was 20 degrees C. The detection wavelength was 214 rim. The regression equation, the linear range, the correlation coefficient and detection limit of the standard curves were determined. The relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 5) was in the range of 1.0% - 2.4%, and the average recoveries of the method ranged from 97.7% to 100.5%. The method was proved to be a rapid, effective way to determine the organic acids in 1, 3-propanediol fermentation broth