Analysis of gums by capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence

Gums were derivatised with the fluorescence reagent, 9-aminopyrene-1,4,6-trisulfonic acid followed by microcentrifuge filtration. The resulting high mass fractions were analysed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) on a polyacrylamide coated capillary with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. A wide pH range of electrolytes was used to study the influences on the electrophoretic mobilities and on the peak shapes of the gums. In this way, the separation of a mixture of five commercial gums, namely iota carrageenan, kappa carrageenan, alginic acid, xanthan and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), could be achieved at pH 3.2 with a 25 mmol/L trisodium citrate buffer. It is also shown that a mixture of Arabic gum, Karaya gum and CMC could be separated at pH 7.8 in a similar buffer.