Capillary supercritical fluid chromatography of pyrrolizidine alkaloids

The application of capillary supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for the separation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) is examined. Most of these compounds are powerful toxins. Because they are present in at least 3% of all flowering plants, they are responsible for serious losses of livestock and human disease. Capillary SFC, with its high separation efficiency, is shown to be an excellent method for the chromatographic analysis of complex PA mixtures. Complete separation of the PAs of the retronecine and otonecine family has been achieved by pressure-programmed capillary SFC. The operating conditions are mild enough to prevent thermal decomposition of the alkaloids during analysis.