A simple and rapid method for evaluation of Mark-Houwink-Sakurada constants of linear random coil polysaccharides using molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity determined by high performance size exclusion chromatography: application to guar galactomannan

A rapid method for establishing the constants in the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation, relating intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight (MW), of guar g alactomannan is described. Following partial acid hydrolysis, the galactoma nnan was analyzed using high performance size exclusion chromatography empl oying viscosimetry and right angle light scattering detectors. In this way, a large number of samples of polysaccharides with a wide range of MW distr ibutions were prepared, without need for isolation, and intrinsic viscosity and MW rapidly determined. The a and K values found for guar galactomannan were 0.72 and 5.13 x 10(-4) ([eta] in dl/g) respectively, in good agreemen t with previously published values. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.