Quantitative Determination of Short Chain Fatty Acids in Synthetic Feces Using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection or Mass Spectrometry

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced in the gut
as a result
of microbial action on ingested dietary fiber and have been associated
with several health benefits. Herein an undergraduate student experiment
that uses gas chromatography equipped with either a flame ionization
detector or mass spectrometer for the analysis and quantitation of
SCFAs in synthetic fecal material is described. The experiment provides
students with valuable sample preparation and instrument operation
skills and provides an opportunity for students to perform quantitative
analysis using the method of internal standards. Subsequently, the
experiment provides an opportunity for students to consolidate their
learning of the key theoretical concepts including chromatographic
separation by gas chromatography, and methods for confirming analyte
identity using each detector type. Due to recent global interest in
gut health, the experiment is topical and of interest to students.
The experiment is designed for upper-division undergraduate analytical
chemistry students.