Dextrin identification

Capillary gas chromatography (GC) using modified cyclodextrins as chiral stationary phases is the preferred method for the separation of volatile enantiomers. Fused-silica capillary columns coated with several alkyl or aryl a-cyclo-dextrin, -cyclodextrin and y-cyclodextrin derivatives are suitable to separate most of the volatile chiral compounds. Multidimensional GC (MDGC)-mass spectrometry (MS) allows the separation of essential oil components on an achiral normal phase column and through heart-cutting techniques, the separated components are led to a chiral column for enantiomeric separation. The mass detector ensures the correct identification of the separated components [73]. Preparative chiral GC is suitable for the isolation of enantiomers [5, 73]. 

The ability of culture filtrates to produce Schardinger dextrins (identified as their crystalline iodine complexes) has been used " as a means for the identification of B. macerans. So far no other source, microbial or otherwise, has been foimd for this unique enzyme. 

The insoluble complexes or inclusion compounds have considerable utility in that they are effectively used in the separation, purification, and identification of the individual dextrins. French and coworkers measured the solubilities of the a.-, /3-, and y-dextrins in the presence of excess organic liquids. A few representative precipitants are listed in Table III. Two rather striking facts emerge from experiments of this sort. In the first place, it is surprising to find that any water-soluble carbohydrate would form such insoluble complexes with unreactive hydrocarbons, halo-genated hydrocarbons, or the like. In some cases the solubility of the dextrin is reduced to less than 1 % of its water solubility. Secondly, it is rather remarkable that the different dextrins are precipitated with widely dif-... 

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