Resolution of complex monosaccharide mixtures from plant cell wall isolates by high pH anion exchange chromatography

The use of high pH anion exchange chromatography combined with pulsed amperometric detection has been established as an effective and sensitive method for the separation, detection and quantification of monosaccharides from a wide range of sources. However, careful examination of the separation conditions required is necessary to ensure that a complete monosaccharide profile can be determined from structures such as the plant cell wall which is a complex network of both neutral and charged polysaccharides. This study has investigated the optimal conditions required for the analysis of such a challenging mixture, including both the stationary and mobile phase minimising co-elution and reducing method complexity. The preferred methods have been used to successfully identify and quantify the monosaccharide components of a selected extract from the plant cell wall of the primitive higher plant Equisetum arvense.