Alternative extraction technique for the quantitative analysis of succinic acid in a chitosan-succinic acid powder mixture using GC-MS

Typical solvent extraction of succinic acid from a chitosan-succinic acid powder mixture gave unsatisfactory yield (10.0%) due to the presence of intramolecular crosslinks between the chitosan amine groups and succinic acid carboxylic groups. An improved extraction method, which included hydrolysis of cross-links by KOH to liberate succinic acid from the matrix, afforded satisfactory yield (95.2±4.0%). Quantitative analysis of succinic acid in chitosan-succinic acid mixture was performed using GCMS and the optimized analysis method showed good validation in terms of specificity, linearity, accuracy (recovery rate), precision (inter-day and intra-day precision), limit of quantification (LOQ), and limit of detection (LOD).