Size exclusion chromatography - Inductively coupled plasma - Mass spectrometry for determining metal-low molecular weight compound complexes in natural wines.

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), as a specific detector for metals, has been used for monitoring and determining metal-low molecular weight organic compound (LMWC) complexes in natural wines. SEC with UV detection (wavelength of 205 nm) was used for monitoring organic compounds eluted from the chromatographic column. SEC-UV has revealed the presence of low molecular weight compounds (commonly three fractions of molecular weights ranging from 230 to 1579 Da).' Further experiments using ICP-MS as a detector showed that elements such as B, Cu, Li, Mn, Ni, Ti, and Zn are bound to compounds of molecular weights within the 338-1579 Da range. Total metal concentrations, as well as metal concentrations in SEC fractions were also assessed in several monovarietal red (five varieties) and monovarietal white (three varieties) wines.