Analysis of sugar acids by capillary electrophoresis with indirect UV detection.: Application to samples of must and wine

A study has been conducted of the separation of sugar acids (gluconic, galacturonic and glucuronic acids) by capillary electrophoresis using indirect UV detection. We have tested various background electrolytes: p-hydroxibenzoic acid, sorbic acid, potassium hydrogen phthalate, protocatechuic acid, alpha-resorcylic acid and beta-resorcylic acid. The choice between these electrolytes was made on the basis of studies of electrophoretic mobility and absorbance values at the wavelengths of our CE system. Of all the electrolytes tested, it was found that beta-resorcylic acid best met the required characteristics. The best separation of the three acid was achieved with a time of 8 min, for an electrolyte consisting of 5 mM beta-resorcylic acid, 1 mM TTAOH (pH 3.0), indirect detection at 214 nm, -20 kV of run voltage and capillary of 60 cm length and 75 mum i.d. It was found that the proposed method is applicable to samples of both must and wine, and that the samples do not require any prior treatment apart from centrifugation (only in the case of must), filtration and dilution in suitable proportion.