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

Abstract

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.