HPLC Method for the Simultaneous Separation of Melamine and Cyanuric Acid on an Zodiac HST N Column

Melamine is a basic organic compound derived from cyanamide, notable for its high nitrogen content (66% by mass). It has been controversially used to artificially elevate the protein content in milk and other food products. Cyanuric acid, a trimer of cyanic acid, is a slightly acidic and highly hydrophilic compound. When combined, melamine and cyanuric acid can form an insoluble complex, which has raised significant safety concerns in food adulteration cases.

Both compounds were successfully separated using a Zodiac HST R reversed-phase ion-exchange column with an LC/MS-compatible mobile phase. This method enables effective retention and resolution of hydrophilic basic and acidic analytes under mild, mass spectrometry-friendly conditions. The approach is suitable for routine analysis of structurally or functionally similar polar compounds in complex mixtures.