SEPARATION OF SUGARS AND POLYOLS BY LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY USING BARE SILICA-GELS AND EVAPORATIVE LIGHT-SCATTERING DETECTION

(Separation of sugars and polyols by liquid chromatography using bare silica gels and evaporative light scattering detection) Bare silica gel in combination with a dichloromethane-methanol mobile phase and a low water content, appears to be capable of offering large selectivities for sugars. A comparison is made with amino bonded phases and acetonitrile-water eluents, since the elution order in both systems is quite similar. Nevertheless, complementary selectivities are obtainable using underivatized silica gels which have the advantages of providing good stability and to avoid Schiff base formation with reducing sugars and amino bonded silica. It is also shown that the problem resulting from the variation in hydration of bare silica can be controlled. Results on isocratic sugar separations are described together with the advantages of evaporative light scattering detection which is sensitive and compatible with gradient elution.