CAPABILITY OF A POLYMERIC C-30 STATIONARY-PHASE TO RESOLVE CIS-TRANS CAROTENOID ISOMERS IN REVERSED-PHASE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

A novel polymeric C-30 stationary phase was tested for its ability to separate geometric isomers of six common carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanth in, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene) p repared by photoisomerization of all-trans standards. Resolution and t entative identification of asymmetrical carotenoid isomers yielded the 13-cis, 13'-cis, all-trans, 9-cis, and 9'-cis isomers of both lutein and ct-carotene, and the 15-cis, 13-cis/3'-cis, all-trans, 9-cis, and 9'-cis isomers of beta-cryptoxanthin. Among symmetrical carotenoids, t he 15-cis, 13-cis, all-trans, and 9-cis isomers of both zeaxanthin and beta-carotene were resolved and tentatively identified, and nineteen geometric isomers of lycopene were separated. Separations were carried out using Vydac 201TP54 and Suplex pkb-100 stationary phases for comp arison; in all cases, the C-30 stationary phase gave superior resoluti on and produced unique separations.