title: Determination of mandelic acid enantiomers in urine by gas chromatography and electron-capture or flame ionisation detection.
abstract: A sensitive and stereospecific GC method was developed for the analysis of R- and S-enantiomers of mandelic acid (MA) in urine, using a chiral CP Chirasil-Dex-CB column. The enantiomers of MA were derivatised with isopropanol into their corresponding isopropyl esters and determined either directly with flame ionisation detection (FID) or after subsequent derivatisation of a hydroxy group with pentafluoropropionic anhydride with electron-capture detection (ECD). Both derivatisation steps proceeded with negligible inversion of enantiomers (<1%). The limit of detection of the FID determination was 8 and 5 mg/l for R-MA and S-MA, respectively and of the ECD determination 1 mg/l for both enantiomers. Repeatability (within-day precision) and reproducibility (day-to-day precision) was for both enantiomers below 7.5% for the FID and below 5.8% for the ECD analysis. The method was applied to urine of volunteers exposed to 105 and 420 mg styrene/m3 air. In the urine of the exposed volunteers, the S-enantiomer showed higher excretion compared to that of the R-enantiomer, with marked interindividual differences in excretion of both enantiomers.
authors.affiliation: Coronel Institute, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.kezic@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kezić
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jakasa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenker
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D004951:Esterification; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007700:Kinetics; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011786:Quality Control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D020058:Styrene / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008333:Mandelic Acids; D020058:Styrene; C037938:mandelic acid