The potency of HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS combined with ion chromatography for detection/purification of levulinic acid and bio-compounds from acid hydrolysis of OPEFB.

This work reports a new strategy for the detection and purification of levulinic acid (LA) and bio-compounds from the acid hydrolysis and enzymatic treatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques combined with ion/ligand chromatography. The detections of LA, biomass-saccharides, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and furfural were successfully elucidated by optimizing the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) and liquid chromatography conditions using a Pb ligand exchange column in the liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) combined with an H ion exchange column also showed potency for detecting chromophoric compounds such as LA, HMF, furfural, and acid (by-products) but not biomass-saccharides.