Essential and non-essential amino acids can be retained and separated in zero-organic mode on Primesep mixed-mode HPLC columns. Zero-organic mode is required to monitor isotopes of carbon. Amino acids are retained by combination of reversed-phase and cation-exchange mechanisms. At lower pH, some of the amino acids are more hydrophobic. Buffer pH will affect ionization state of amino acids, and at higher pH (above 2.5), the amino acids will be less hydrophobic and retentive in zero-organic mode. Amino acids can be monitored by low UV. Method can be used in archeological research for analysis of various molecules where presence of organic component of the mobile phase interferes with analysis.

Application Notes: Amino acids are polar ionic compounds which are not retained on reversed-phase column without ion-pairing reagent. In our application, lysine and arginine can be separated from other amino acids. Amino acids with a pH between 3 and 5 and with one basic and one acidic group become very polar. Therefore these amino acids don’t have strong ion-exchange interaction with Primesep C stationary phase. Amino acids with two amino groups still carry positive net charge and can interact with stationary phase by cations-exchange mechanism. pH variation of the mobile phase can be an effective tool to adjust selectivity of separation for zwitter-ionic, basic and acidic compounds. This method can be used for separation of mono-charged compounds from compounds having an extra charge.

Application Columns: Primesep C
Application compounds: Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Aspargine, Glycine, Proline, Alanine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Leucine, Lysine, Arginine
Detection technique: UV, LC/MS, ELSD/CAD