Solid Phase Extraction of Oligo‐ and Polysaccharides; Application to Maltodextrins and Honey Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Oligosaccharides and polysaccharides are frequently found in complex matrices such as food products, foodstuffs, cosmetics or pharmaceutical preparations. Prior sugar analysis, such samples require selective extraction and/or purification. Two methods are proposed and compared using test mixtures such as maltodextrins and commercial sugar syrup. Procedures include solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography with an evaporative light scattering detector. The choice of the system is highly dependent on the degree of polymerisation of the analytes. Aminopropyl bonded phases were the best choice for solid phase extraction and chromatography of oligosaccharides having a degree of polymerization higher than 4. Besides, apolar phases used for extraction, as well as for chromatography, were revealed to be well adapted for polysaccharides analyses. Both methods, having recoveries up to 90%, were applied to acacia honey and it was shown that oligosaccharides detection can be easily performed. Besides, trace analysis of polysaccharides in honey was also possible using a high enrichment factor. Polysaccharides presence was confirmed by Maldi‐TOF mass spectrometry. Keywords: Column liquid chromatographySolid phase extractionCarbohydratesSugar syrupMaltodextrins and honey Acknowledgments This work was financially supported by the Conseil Régional Rhône‐Alpes and the Ministère de l'Education Nationale et de la Recherche, France.