Chromatographic Fractionation of Non‐Nitrogenous Organic Acids in Taiwan Sugar Cane by Silica Gel Column

Abstract

AbstractPartition chromatography on silica gel columns has been applied to isolate and identify some of the hitherto undetected non‐nitrogenous organic acids present in sugar cane juice. In this experiment, nine organic acids were identified from Taiwan sugar cane, F 127 and N:CO 310, and eight of them from F 126. They are mesaconic, syringic, fumaric, succinic, aconitic, glycolic, malic, citric and oxalic acid. Among these, mesaconic acid was not identified by comparing with the authentic acid, but was indirectly identified from the position of its peak effluent volume. Though the crystal of syringic acid could not be obtained, the position of its peak was definitely identified by that of the authentic acid‐Other acids were identified by the mesurement of their respective Rf values, the microphotographs of the crystal shape, and the determination of the melting points.According to the results, the recovery of all the non‐nitrogenous organic acids present in the sugar cane was almost quantitative with the exception of oxalic acid, the result of which was obviously erratic. Other acids were recovered with excellent rates ranging from 96.9% to 102% In three varieties of sugar cane, F 126, F 127 and N:CO 310, the aconitic acid was the highest content, those of citric, glycolic, malic and oxalic acid came next. The contents of the other acids were comparatively low.