COUPLED SIZE-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY ANION-EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY IN THE ANALYSIS OF POLYSACCHARIDES AND OLIGOSACCHARIDES

The use of anion-exchange chromatography (AEX) in the analysis of olig osaccharides is hampered by the fact that more complicated samples res ult in a jungle of peaks, which are hard to interpret. In two-dimensio nal chromatography with a combination of size-exclusion chromatography and AEX, the interpretation is facilitated by the use of hydrodynamic volume data along with AEX data. Therefore, the highly branched and l inear gluco-oligosaccharides may be easily distinguished, as well as l inear gluco-oligosaccharides with different bonds. Two-dimensional chr omatography also provides a simple and reliable method to avoid interf erences from buffer components or from major peaks or even from overwh elming concentrations of larger polysaccharides.