The Asahipak NH2P-50 column, packed with polyamine-bonded polymer gel, was investigated in terms of mono- and oligosaccharide separation efficiency, reproducibility and column durability. Elution consistently occurred in the order mono-, di- and trisaccharide, and elution volume increased with increasing acetonitrile concentration. Chromatograms obtained over a period of one week of some 170 saccharide analyses on a single NH2P-50 column were virtually indistinguishable, while under the same conditions the efficiency of an amino-bonded silica gel column steadily decreased. The NH2P-50 column was amenable to both acidic and alkaline eluents, with no decrease in column efficiency after extended alternating passage of acidic and alkaline solutions. It also exhibited high separation efficiency with eluent containing tetrapropylammonium hydroxide and acetic acid solution.
