SEPARATION OF CHLOROPHYLLS-C1, CHLOROPHYLLS-C2, AND CHLOROPHYLLS-C3 OF MARINE-PHYTOPLANKTON BY REVERSED-PHASE-C18 HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

We separated chlorophylls c1, c2, and c3 of marine phytoplankton together with other pigments by a modification of the commonly applied reversed-phase-C18-high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-C18-HPLC) method. However, the chlorophyll c-like pigment 2,4, Mg-divinylpheoporphyrin a5 monomethyl ester, co-eluted with chlorophyll c1. The method involves optimization of the mobile phase by using a very high ion strength solvent in combination with a high carbon loaded RP-C18 column. Fingerprints of the various taxonomic groups of algae can thus be developed in a single run, including separation of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.