title: Analysis of amino acids as DABS-derivatives with a sensitivity to the femtomole level using RP-HPLC narrow-bore columns.
abstract: In this paper we report the complete separation of amino acids as DABS-derivatives using a 3µm Supelcosil LC-18 (25 cm × 2.1 mm I.D.) narrowbore column. The system described makes it possible to perform the analysis of DABS-amino acids with a sensitivity to the femtomole level. We have also studied the conditions necessary for using the narrow-bore columns for routine analysis, paying particular attention to the problem of providing adequate protection for the analytical column. We have found it very suitable to use a (2 cm × 2.1 mm I.D.) guard column filled with a 40µm Pelliguard LC-18, pellicular packing resin, without affecting the complete resolution of the DABS-amino acids. Comparing the results obtained using conventional HPLC columns (3-5µm Supelcosil LC-18) of different lengths (15 and 25 cm × 4.6 mm I.D.) with those obtainable with the narrow-bore columns used in this work, it is possible to achieve a much greater sensitivity using the narrow-bore columns. In short, using the appropriate guard column and the "standard" HPLC apparatus used, the narrow-bore columns are very useful for routine analyses of DABS-amino acids with a sensitivity at the femtomole level.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Biologica "Giorgio Fornaini", Università degli Studi di Urbino, Via Saffi, 2, I-61029, Urbino, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stocchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biagiarelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masat
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cucchiarini