HPLC SEPARATION AND QUANTITATION OF PHYTIC ACID AND SOME INOSITOL PHOSPHATES IN FOODS - PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

A macroporous polymer column was used to resolve a mixture of inositol hexakis-, pentakis-, tetrakis-, and trisphosphates within 5-9 min. Optimized eluting systems based on acetonitrile or methanol had improved resolution and reduced chromatographic run times. The silica-based anion exchange column used in the analysis of cereal samples was used to prepare small amounts of pure inositol pentakis-, tetrakis-, and trisphosphates for calibration standards. A number of potential analytical problems are discussed, and solutions are proposed.