Several oxidizable vitamins (vitamin A, B6, C, D3 and E) were analyzed using HPLC and electrochemical detection. Excellent sensitivity was achieved with all vitamins. The minimum detectable level for vitamin A- palmitate was about 80 pg, for β-carotene about 50 pg, for vitamin B6 about 30 pg, for vitamin C below 1 pg, for vitamin D3 about 70 pg and for vitamin E about 30 pg. The optimum potentials were evaluated using an automated increment for the potentials. The reproducibility was tested using vitamin B6 and was found to be 3% RSD of peak height for 100 runs. Due to the high selectivity of electrochemical detection, it was possible to keep sample preparation very simple.
This document details a method for analyzing several oxidizable vitamins using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) combined with an electrochemical detector. The authors demonstrate that this combination provides excellent sensitivity, achieving minimum detectable levels in the picogram range for various vitamins like Vitamin A-palmitate and Vitamin C.
The note specifically highlights the use of the Agilent 1049A electrochemical detector paired with HP 1050 Series pumps. It covers experimental setups for analyzing Vitamin A/B-carotene in fruit juice, Vitamin B6 in pharmaceutical preparations, and Vitamin C in fruit juices, emphasizing the high selectivity that simplifies sample preparation.
The minimum detectable level for vitamin C is below 1 pg.
The reproducibility was found to be 3% RSD of peak height for 100 runs.
The Agilent 1049A electrochemical detector was used.