DETERMINATION OF RAFFINOSE AND LACTOBIONIC ACID IN VIASPAN(R) BY ANION-EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH PULSED AMPEROMETRIC DETECTION

An anion exchange chromatographic method has been developed to quantif y raffinose and lactobionic acid in ViaSpan(R), an organ preservation product. Separation was accomplished using an aqueous sodium hydroxide /acetate solvent system (pH 13) on a Carbopac PA1 column. Detection wa s performed using a pulsed amperometric detector equipped with a gold working electrode. The method was able to resolve raffinose, lactobion ic acid and other ingredients in the ViaSpan(R) product. Validation te sting of the method for routine use produced excellent linearity, prec ision and accuracy. The limits of detection for raffinose and lactobio nic acid were 1.0 ng (1.7 x 10(-12) mol, S/N = 3) and 2.0 ng (5.6 x 10 (-12) mol, S/N = 3) respectively. The total analysis time is less than 15 min.