Thin-layer electrophoretic separation of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and related compounds on reverse phase silica gel.

The electrophoretic mobilities of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and sugar acids were determined in 0.3 M borate buffer, pH 10, using thin-layer electrophoresis on silanized silica gel, pretreated with octanol-1. A rapid separation of a number of sugars, occurring in foods, could be achieved. Using a 0.05-0.1 M neutral solution of barium acetate as electrolyte, thin-layer electrophoresis allowed excellent and rapid separation as well as identification of all common uronic acids which are constituents of many acidic polysaccharides.