Chromatography of folates on Sephadex G-10.

Folates have been separated on columns of Sephadex G-10 using spectrophotometric and microbiological detection with Lactobacillus casei. The method is suitable especially for the separation of folic acid from other folates, and of dihydrofolic acid derivatives from their tetrahydrofolic acid forms. Distribution constants of seven standard folates have been determined. The method has been applied to the determination of folates in cow's milk. Chromatographic separation of conjugase treated and untreated samples of cow's milk has made it possible to distinguish between free and bound forms of folates.