Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry of 13 Resin Acids as their PFB Esters

GC/MS method was employed for the separation and identification of resin acids from pulp mill effluents as their pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) esters. The mass spectra of standards and effluent samples were analyzed and fragmentation patterns were elucidated for 13 resin acids. Characteristic fragment ions and the mass spectra of 13 resin acids are presented, namely pimaric, sandaracopimaric, isopimaric, 8,15-isopimaric, 8,15-pimaric, abietic, neoabietic, palustric, levopimaric, dehydroabietic, 7-oxodehydroabietic, O-methylpodocarpic and 8(14)-abietenic acid.