SEPARATION OF DERIVATIZED CARBOHYDRATES BY CO-ELECTROOSMOTIC CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

The separation of derivatized carbohydrates has been performed by co-e lectroosmotic capillary electrophoresis. Derivatization was performed by reductive amination of the carbohydrates with ethyl p-aminobenzoate or with p-aminobenzonitrile. Separation selectivity is optimized usin g buffer electrolytes containing high concentrations of berate, organi c solvents, and mixtures thereof; this enabled separation of the carbo hydrate derivatives then direct UV detection. Co-directional migration of the anionic analytes with the electroosmotic flow was achieved by adding a cationic polymer (hexadimethrine bromide, HDB) to the electro lyte. With this method it is possible to determine specific carbohydra tes, such as arabinose, mannose, and glucose, which are difficult to s eparate by other CE methods. The applicability of the method is demons trated for the analysis of plant hydrolyzates.