SUBCRITICAL FLUID CHROMATOGRAPHY OF MONOSACCHARIDES AND POLYOLS USINGSILICA AND TRIMETHYLSILYL COLUMNS

Efficient subcritical fluid chromatography (SubFC) analysis of twelve monosaccharides and polyols on silica and trimethylsilyl (TMS)-bonded silica stationary phases is proposed. Mobile phase composition was stu died using CO, methanol, CO2-methanol-water, CO2-methanol-warer-trieth ylamine in order to obtain high efficiency and resolution. By adjustin g the column temperature to 60 degrees C and the flow-rate to 5 ml min (-1), a complete separation of eight monosaccharides and polyols is ob tained in less than 10 min. Using silica and TMS columns, retentions o f carbohydrates and polyols in SubFC are compared with those of some g lycolipids. It was found that carbohydrate retention increases when wa ter is added to the eluent, whereas the retention of glycolipids decre ases. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.