Thermodynamic study of urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolites by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

The urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolites are secondary metabolites formed by the biodegradation of chlorophylls. The thermodynamic study of the urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolites from autumnal leaves extract of Parrotia persica and Hamamelis virginiana was done using reversed-phase liquid chromatography on the C4 and C8 analytical columns with acidified water-methanol mobile phase in combination with ultraviolet detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The presence of the urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolites was detected by their characteristic ultraviolet absorption and their molecular mass. The retention behaviors of the two urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolite isomers over a temperature range of 278–318 K were investigated. The retention time data permitted the construction of the van’t Hoff plots. The stationary phase composition influences the thermodynamics of the retention of the urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolites. The study presented can find the application in the separation of the urobilinogenic chlorophyll catabolites in autumnal leaves extracts.