Analysis of modified polyamide 6.6 using coupled liquid chromatography and MALDI-TOF-mass spectrometry

A new approach of analysis of polyamide 6.6 using the principle of coupling polymer liquid chromatography to matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) is presented. In contrast to the known technique of two-dimensional chromatography, MALDI-TOF-MS was applied in the 2nd chromatographic dimension. According to the synthesis of polyamide 6.6 various species with different end groups are expected. Due to the capping of the end groups during the synthesis, either performed by the addition of mono-functional amines or acids, additional structures are formed and found. Although the resolution of chromatography applied for separation was poor in comparison to the broad variety of expected species, a complete identification of those components was achieved applying the MALDI-TOF-MS technique. The results were presented in a two-dimensional plot, which can be used as a fingerprint method for the analysis of polyamide 6.6. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.