Capillary electrophoresis and indirect UV detection as a fast and simple analytical tool for bacterial taxonomy

Short-chain methylated fatty acids are difficult to study using conventional techniques such as gas chromatography, because of their high volatility. Moreover, the treatment of the samples is long and fastidious. Fatty acids are very interesting substances for the characterization of anaerobic bacteria. In this work we develop a new fast and simple method using capillary electrophoresis and indirect UV detection for the analysis of different short-chain fatty acids. We analyzed culture media of different anaerobic bacteria and found some concentration patterns which are discriminant at the species level. Prior to analysis the culture media were simply filtrated and diluted. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.