Highly sensitive, quick and simple quantification method for mono and disaccharides in aqueous media using liquid chromatography–atmospheric pressure chemical ionization–mass spectrometry (LC–APCI–MS)

A highly sensitive, rapid LC–APCI–MS method for identification and quantification of mono and disaccharides in simple or complex aqueous phase has been developed. This original method is easy to use, no derivation and no post-column injection are needed. The separation is performed with a hydrophilic amino interaction (HILIC) column allowing high-throughput analysis with analysis times of 15 min for monosaccharides to 22 min for disaccharides. The development of the method carried out with 9 standard saccharides allowed to point out a dynamic range from 0.1–25.6 to 1–256 μg mL−1 depending on the considered sugar. Next, the method was validated on saccharides at known concentrations in water and on 2 real samples: orange juice and aqueous phase obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis of sunflower seeds.