ANALYSIS OF ETHANOL AND ACETALDEHYDE RECOVERY FROM PERCHLORIC ACID-TREATED BLOOD

Recovery of acetaldehyde (0–20 μM) or ethanol (0–50 mM) added to blood and subsequently treated with perchloric acid (PCA) was evaluated using head-space gas chromatography and compared with controls. Using blood from five dogs, 62% of ethanol binding sites. The mathematical model also indicated acetaldehyde binding is 2500-fold stronger than ethanol binding. These results indicate as much as 46.4% of acetaldehyde may be bound to PCA-induced precipitate formed in whole blood. This loss of acetaldehyde is 3- to 4-fold greater than acetaldehyde loss caused by evaporation from PCA-treated blood.