Separation of Orthophthalaldehyde/Ethanethiol Derivatives of Taurine and Closely Eluting Amino Acids by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

In studies of the reverse phase, HPLC analysis of amino acids employing precolumn derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde and ethanethiol, it was shown that α-amino-n-butyric acid, β-amino-isobutyric acid and taurine coeluted in the acetonitrile/aqueous phosphate solvent system. By using a ternary solvent system of acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran/aqueous phosphate buffer and efficient 5- and 10-μm octadecylsilane packings, the co-elution problem has been resolved. This modified chromatographic system is now being used to quantitatively determine taurine and other closely eluting amino acids in a variety of physiological fluids in order to clarify the role of taurine in human development.