One objective of this study is to separate positional isomers p-,
m-, and o-cresols by a simple HPLC method to meet the increasing
regulatory demand of testing and reporting these compounds
separately. This goal was realized using a novel multifunctional
PFP stationary phase and methanol mobile phase compositions.
Another objective of this study, which is to further reduce solvent
consumption and increase the method’s efficiency, was realized
using a shorter analytical column with smaller particle size. The
third objective of this study is to use less expensive organic solvent
in mobile phase to cut the cost in solvent consumption and
cope with the crisis during global acetonitrile shortage. The results
in this study have demonstrated that using methanol instead of
acetonitrile in mobile phases not only provides a less expensive
alternative, but also provides a better separation method for this
group of compounds compared to the traditional HPLC method.
On the basis of these improvements, a new HPLC method has
been validated for the determination of major phenolic compounds
in cigarette smoke and smokeless tobacco products. Compared
to the GC–MS method, this HPLC method is simpler and faster
without the need for derivatization and sample clean up. Compared
to the traditional HPLC method, this new method is simpler,
faster, more sensitive, and cost-effective; and more importantly,
it can determine p-, m-, and o-cresols separately with good
accuracy.