QUANTITATIVE CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS: PART 3. FACTORS CONTROLLING THE PATTERNS OF SEPARATION OF THE AMINO ACIDS ON PAPER CHROMATOGRAMS

Abstract

The possibility of developing a complementary pair or trio of one-dimensional chromatographic systems capable of separating reliably all the common amino acids is considered. In order to secure the required substantial improvements in both the resolving power and the reproducibility which would be essential, the approach is adopted of attempting with selected systems to exploit as fully as possible the feature of adjustability in the patterns of separation of the amino acids. As a class it seems that systems consisting of buffered miscible solvents used with papers pretreated with the same buffers are especially promising in this respect. A representative family of systems of this class (based on n-propanol, ethanol, and aqueous pyrophosphate buffers containing sodium chloride) is selected for the systematic study of the influence of a number of variables upon the separations. As a result great improvements in resolution became possible, and the main objectives of the investigation were shown to be within reach.