Carbohydrate analyses with high-performance anion-exchange chromatography

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), in tandem with pulsed amperometric detector (PAD) is a powerful tool for carbohydrate analysis. It requires no pre- or postcolumn derivatization, and yet offers superb resolution and sensitivity. In its basic mode, alcoxide anions from the hydroxyl groups of carbohydrates as well as other anionic substituens are utilized. In addition to the number of hydroxyl groups, separation can be based on anomers, positional isomers, as well as degree of polymerization.