A General Method for the Quant[fication of Nmmo and Its Main Degradation Products by Capillary Electrophoresis

A general analytical method based on capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection has been developed to separate and quarntify N-methylmorpholine-N-Oxide (NMMO) and its main degradation products iV-methylmorpboline (NMM) and morpholine (M). The electrolyte is based on the two major components 4-methylbenzylamine and 2hydlroxy-2-methylpropanoic acid (hydroxyisobutyric acid, HIBA), tbe latter being used to atdjust tbe pH to a value below 3.5 which is crucial for tbe electrophoretic mobility and, thus, for a good detectability of the amine Oxide. The present method is widely applicable to monitor kinetics of reaction mixtures conlaining NMMO. NMM and M tan be determined simultaneously even in a 1000fold excess of NMMO. It was employed to monitor the kinetics of NMMO reactions, such as the reaction with Xylose, the degradation of cellolose and the autocatalytic decomposition induced by carbenium-iminim ions.