Metal cation-carbohydrate complexes applications

Typical applications of ion exchange in sugar analysis include (a) complexation of borates, which accentuates ionic interactions with the exchanger (27), (b) use of hydroorganic eluents, especially acetonitrile/water, with rigid, fine-particulate anion columns (28), (c) use of basic eluents, since most carbohydrates are weak acids with pKfl of 12-13 (29), (d) complexation with cations, Pb2+, Ca2+ and Ag+ being the most frequently employed, (e) the use of cation exchangers in a heavy metal form, e.g., Aminex HPX-85. 

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