Determination of sucrose as its trimethylsilyl derivative using gas-liquid chromatography

8 DETERMINATION OF SUCROSE AS ITS TRIMETHYLSILYL DERIVATIVE USING GAS-LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY 

The purpose of the experiment is to illustrate the application of derivatisation in the analysis of sugar and related substances by gas-liquid chromatography. The silylation method described is an almost universal derivatisation procedure for carbohydrate analysis by GC.79 

Reagents and apparatus. The reagents and solvents should be pure and dry, and should be tested in advance in the gas chromatographic system which is to be used in the experiment. 

Pyridine. Purify by refluxing over potassium hydroxide, followed by distillation. Store the purified pyridine over the same reagent. 

Reaction vessel. Use a small tube or vial fitted with a Teflon-lined screw cap. Gas chromatograph. Operate the column isothermally at 210 °C using a flame ionisation detector. 

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