The Ingredient Check: Accurate Quantification of Five Key Sugars (RCX-30)
The Ingredient Check: Accurate Quantification of Five Key Sugars (RCX-30)
Mono and disaccharides are of increasing importance in the growing industrialized food industry. With the rise of diabetes and other metabolic diseases, consumers are taking health and nutrition into their own hands. Consumers are now more interested in the ingredients that are found on the packaging. In addition to personal knowledge, the FDA has mandated that the amounts of certain mono and disaccharides be disclosed to the consumer.1 To address these needs, Hamilton Company has developed a solution to accurately determine the five most common saccharides: lactose, maltose, sucrose, fructose, and glucose. The identification is achieved through the use of the Hamilton RCX-30. Since there are no chromophores in simple carbohydrates, visualization is generally achieved through the use of Refractive Index (RI).
The RCX-30 utilizes a strong anion exchange mechanism facilitated through a propyl trimethylamine functionality. The anionic charge separation for the five saccharides is easily tuned through the use of the sodium hydroxide mobile phase, since carbohydrates are weak acids with dissociation constants in the range of 12–14. Retention of the sugars is increased with the use of alkaline conditions, and the separation can therefore be adjusted depending on the concentration of hydroxide. An Increase in the hydroxide concentration facilitates a decrease in retention. The polymeric-based substrate used in nearly all Hamilton columns provides good longevity, reduced back-pressure, pH stability from 1 to 13, and consistent overall performance.
References
[1] Revision of the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, Food and Drug Administration, May 27, 2016 CFR: 21 CFR Part 101.
Author: Adam L. Moore, PhD, Hamilton Company
