Determination of Fatty Acids (C1-C10) from Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

A simple and mild method for the determination of fatty acids (C-1 - C-10) based on a condensation reaction using 7-aminonaphthalene-1,3-disulfonic acid (ANDSA) as labeling reagent with capillary zone electrophoresis has been developed. The detection was performed with a diode array detector at 254 nm. A 58.5 cm x 50 mu m i.d. (50 cm effective length) untreated fused-silica capillary was used. To optimize the separation conditions, the background electrolyte concentration, column temperature, voltage and other factors were evaluated. The optimal separation conditions were as follows: 30 mmol L-1 borate buffer (pH 9.5), 15 mmol L-1 beta-CD, temperature at 20 A degrees C, pressure 50 mbar and injection time 8 s. Under the established conditions, 10 fatty acid derivatives could be well-separated within 17 min. The linearity was in the range of 0.07-5.0 mu mol L-1. Detection limits (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) were in the range of 0.027-0.042 mu mol L-1. The fatty acids from the extracted Funaria Hedw. and Selaginella samples were determined with satisfactory results.