A predictive-kinetic method for the quantitation of amino acids with ninhydrin

The development and evaluation of a predictive-kinetic method for quantifying amino acids based on reactions with ninhydrin are described. Conditions are developed for which reactions are pseudo-first-order in the amino acid. Absorbance vs. time data from the kinetic region of the reaction (1–3 half-lives) are fitted to a first-order model to predict the total absorbance change that would occur if the reaction were monitored to completion. Computed absorbance changes vary linearly with amino acid concentration between 1 × 10^?5 and 5 × 10^?5 mol l^?1. Results are virtually independent of changes in temperature (± 1° C) and ninhydrin concentration (± 3 × 10^?3 mol l^?1).