A high-sensitivity and matrix-resistant liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry method for accurate quantification of adipic acid in fungal microplastic degradation systems
4 affiliations
- 1Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
- 2State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- 3State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China; School of Chemistry, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- 4Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China; Corresponding author.
Abstract
Microplastic pollution has become a growing global concern, and fungal biodegradation represents a promising approach for its mitigation. Accurate quantification of adipic acid (AA), a key monomer released during the degradation of poly(1,4-butylene adipate)-based polyurethane (PBA-PU), is essential for confirming the release of adipic acid units during PBA-PU degradation and verifying ester bond hydrolysis. A rapid and straightforward method was developed and validated using high-performance liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for AA quantification. The method, which is derivatization-free, matrix-resistant, and cost-effective, enables sensitive and precise trace-level detection of AA in complex fungal degradation matrices. It involves the addition of adipic acid- d 8 (deuterium-labeled AA) as an internal standard, followed by extraction through filtration and methanol dissolution. The extracts were analyzed on a reverse-phase C-18 column using liquid chromatography. The optimized analytical method enables accurate, sensitive, and efficient AA quantification within 6 min, demonstrating excellent linearity (R 2 > 0.99), matrix effect (-0.519%), precision (RSD < 10%), recovery (89.32 - 104.19%), stability (RSD < 15%), and limits of quantification (LOQ) of 15 ng/mL. This method was successfully applied to analyze AA produced during the fungal degradation of PBA-PU by Cladosporium oxysporum SCSIO 81042 (a marine-derived fungus), highlighting its applicability for routine analysis of AA monomers quantitative detection in microbial plastic degradation.
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BibTeX
@article{shi2026highsensitivity,
title = {{A high-sensitivity and matrix-resistant liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry method for accurate quantification of adipic acid in fungal microplastic degradation systems}},
author = {Zhichao Shi and Lihong Wu and Hui Chen and Tingbiao Wu and Yingjuan Wang and Boren Xiao and Tingting Fan},
journal = {Journal of Chromatography Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.jcoa.2026.100372},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcoa.2026.100372},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A high-sensitivity and matrix-resistant liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry method for accurate quantification of adipic acid in fungal microplastic degradation systems
AU - Zhichao Shi
AU - Lihong Wu
AU - Hui Chen
AU - Tingbiao Wu
AU - Yingjuan Wang
AU - Boren Xiao
AU - Tingting Fan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Journal of Chromatography Open
DO - 10.1016/j.jcoa.2026.100372
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcoa.2026.100372
AB - Microplastic pollution has become a growing global concern, and fungal biodegradation represents a promising approach for its mitigation. Accurate quantification of adipic acid (AA), a key monomer released during the degradation of poly(1,4-butylene adipate)-based polyurethane (PBA-PU), is essential for confirming the release of adipic acid units during PBA-PU degradation and verifying ester bond hydrolysis. A rapid and straightforward method was developed and validated using high-performance liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) for AA quantification. The method, which is derivatization-free, matrix-resistant, and cost-effective, enables sensitive and precise trace-level detection of AA in complex fungal degradation matrices. It involves the addition of adipic acid- d 8 (deuterium-labeled AA) as an internal standard, followed by extraction through filtration and methanol dissolution. The extracts were analyzed on a reverse-phase C-18 column using liquid chromatography. The optimized analytical method enables accurate, sensitive, and efficient AA quantification within 6 min, demonstrating excellent linearity (R 2 > 0.99), matrix effect (-0.519%), precision (RSD < 10%), recovery (89.32 - 104.19%), stability (RSD < 15%), and limits of quantification (LOQ) of 15 ng/mL. This method was successfully applied to analyze AA produced during the fungal degradation of PBA-PU by Cladosporium oxysporum SCSIO 81042 (a marine-derived fungus), highlighting its applicability for routine analysis of AA monomers quantitative detection in microbial plastic degradation.
SN - 2772-3917
ER -