Development and application of a high resolution liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of complex pigment distributions

Ternary and binary gradient systems have been developed for the high-perfor mance liquid chromatographic analysis of complex pigment distributions typi cal of natural samples. Improved chromatographic resolution reveals signifi cantly more pigment components in extracts from a sediment (Priest Pot, Cum bria, UK), a microbial mat (les Salines de la Trinital, South Catalonia, Sp ain) and a culture (C. phaeobacteroides) including novel bacteriochlorophyl l derivatives. The methods developed are directly suited to LC-MS analysis and the automated acquisition of MS/MS data for pigments. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.