Weak organic acids are naturally occurring compounds that are commercially used as preservatives in the food and beverage industries. They extend the shelf life of food products by inhibiting microbial growth. There are a number of theories that explain the antifungal properties of these weak acids, but the exact mechanism is still unknown. We set out to quantitatively determine the contributio...

Ethyl esters from uncommon fatty acids, such as valproic, azelaic, and sorbic acids, were chemically synthesized and identified by gas chromatography or liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Some properties were evaluated to determine their potential for use as biofuels or in other commercial applications. They have remarkable and pleasant odors and, in the case of ethyl ester in ...

Analysis of pharmaceuticals and biomolecules using HPLC coupled to ICPMS and ESI-MS Andrew James Cartwright The work described within this thesis explores the use of HPLC coupled with ICPMS and ESI-MS in order to develop novel methods which overcome specific analytical challenges in the pharmaceutical industry. A membrane desolvation interface has been evaluated for coupling high performance li...