Coupled size-exclusion chromatography anion-exchange chromatography in the analysis of poly- and oligosaccharides

The use of anion-exchange chromatography (AEX) in the analysis of oligosaccharides is hampered by the fact that more complicated samples result in a jungle of peaks, which are hard to interpret. In two-dimensional chromatography with a combination of size-exclusion chromatography and AEX, the interpretation is facilitated by the use of hydrodynamic volume data along with AEX data. Therefore, the highly branched and linear gluco-oligosaccharides may be easily distinguished, as well as linear gluco-oligosaccharides with different bonds. Two-dimensional chromatography also provides a simple and reliable method to avoid interferences from buffer components or from major peaks or even from overwhelming concentrations of larger polysaccharides.