Capillary electrophoresis with electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry for the characterisation of degradation products in aged papers

► A CE/ESI-MS methodology was developed for the analysis of degradation products from paper. ► Low molar mass aliphatic organic acids and aromatic (phenolic and furanic) compounds were analysed simultaneously. ► A good separation of the compounds of interest was obtained within 13 min, and most of them were quantified. ► The analysis of a lignocellulosic paper shows the progression in the production of these compounds at the different stages of accelerated hygrothermal ageing.