Selective complex formation of saccharides with europium(III) and iron(III) ions at alkaline pH studied by ligand-exchange chromatography

At high pH, saccharides become negatively charged by deprotonation of one or several hydroxylic groups and they are highly and selectively retained by ligand-exchange chromatography. The systems consist of a sulphonated polystyrene strong cation exchanger in europium(III) or iron(III) form and sodium hydroxide as mobile phase. The degree of complex formation is dependent on solute character and concentration, metal ion and pH, the reaction being of second order as confirmed by breakthrough studies. Rapid desorption of the solutes is performed by the introduction of an acidic mobile phase. Monosaccharides, and especially sugar alcohols, are selectively retained by a column in Fe(III) form whereas all saccharides are strongly retained as Eu(III) complexes, e.g., the capacity factor for the breakthrough of 10 μM glucose, in 0.1 M NaOH as mobile phase, was ca. 3500 The systems are proposed to be highly selective for the analysis of sugars.