Oxidation of Monosaccharides with Oxygen in Alkaline Solution. Separation, Identification and Estimation of the Aldonic Acids Produced by Liquid Chromatography^1,2

Abstract

A reliable liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the separation, identification and estimation of the products formed when saccharides are oxidized in alkaline solution with oxygen. The technique was then used to quantitatite the acids produced when glucose is subjected to such an oxidation. The Bio-Rad cationg exchange column HPX-87H⁺, when eluted with 0.01 N H₂SO₄ and attached to a UV detector, was found to be satisfactory. Quanitative estimation of the products formed during the oxidation of glucose was achieved by withdrawing aliquots from the reaction mixture and injecting them directly into the chromatographic system. It was found that about 90% of the oxidation products formed were produced via a 1,2-enediol and less than 10% via a 2,3-enediol. The results confirmed the mechanism proposed by Isbell to account for the acids produced.