OXIDATION OF MONOSACCHARIDES WITH OXYGEN IN ALKALINE SOLUTION

The aim of this work was to develop a reliable liquid chromatographic method for the separation, identification and estimation of the products formed when saccharides are oxidized in alkaline solution with oxygen, and then to use this technique to quantitate the acids produced when glucose is subjected to such an oxidation. Two columns were tested, a reverse phase Waters Nova Pak C$\sb{18}$ column and a Bio-Rad cation exchange column (HPX-87H$\sp+$). The second column when eluted with.01 N H$\sb2$SO$\sb4$ and attached to a UV detector, was found to be satisfactory for the proposed study. Quantitative estimation of the products formed during the oxidation of glucose was achieved by withdrawing aliquots from the reaction mixture and injecting them directly into the chromatographic system. It was found that about 90% of the oxidation products formed were obtained from 1,2-enediols and less than 10% via the 2,3-enediols. It was also found that a mechanism proposed by H. S. Isbell can account for the acids produced.