Rapid nanomolar detection of guaiacol from its precursors using a core‐shell reversed‐phase column coupled with a boron‐doped diamond electrode

The electrooxidation mechanisms of guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol), a food and beverage spoilage metabolite, and its precursors; vanillic acid (VA), vanillin, and ferulic acid (FA) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) together with a BDD electrode poised at +1.6 V vs. Pd/H-2, was optimized for their sensitive detection. The separation was achieved in 60 s with a core-shell column (HALO C-18). The detection limits of these analytes ranged from 10-30 nM. The method was applicable for the analysis of guaiacol and its precursors from a popular commercial drink.