AZIDE DETERMINATION IN PROTEIN SAMPLES BY ION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Sodium azide is used as an anti-fungal agent in protein samples in the health related scientific community. Due to its toxic nature, monitoring of the azide level in proteins used in scientific research is necessary. Ion-exchange chromatography has been used to quantitate azide levels in protein samples. Anion-exchange methodology is described which allows for the separation of azide from various common anions found in analytical grade protein sample matrices. The analytical system described utilizes a polymer [poly(styrene-divinylbenzene)] stationary phase which has been surface sulfonated followed by the binding of the aminated latex bead active ion-exchange sites (Dionex, AS4A column). Sodium tetraborate is used as the weak anion-exchange mobile phase. A vendor ion-exchange column comparison is made along with eluent composition and selection studies. Method validation data are presented including: calibration plots for external standardization, limit of detection and method recovery. Various types of proteins are assayed using the described method.