Pentoses, colorimetric determination

General color reactions of this type include the Molisch test with a-naphtfiol and concentrated sulfuric acid and the anthrone reaction with anthrone and sulfuric acid. The latter is used for quantitive colorimetric determinations. Reaction conditions can be chosen so that only ketoses react (HCl - - resorcinol, Seliwanoff s test) or only pentoses (HCl -b orcinol. Rial s test). These reactions help to distinguish the various sugars. 

The cystine-H2S04 reaction is a very good colorimetric method for determining pentoses quantitatively (D3). Roe s (R5) method is probably the best method for quantitative determination of aldopentoses. This method uses 2% p-bromoaniline in acetic acid saturated with... 

Neutral monosaccharides, uronic acids, hexosa-mines, and sialic (neurominic acids) are identified and determined by specific colorimetric reactions. The principle behind the techniques rests on the condensation of the degraded products of the neutral monosaccharides (hexose, pentose and methyl pentose) by sulfuric acid with anthrone, cysteine hydrochloride, orcinol, and phenol reagents. Uronic acids may be determined by colorimetric and manometric procedures. While sialic acids are determined after chemical/enzymatic hydrolysis, gravimetric and Van-Soest detergent based methods are used to determine cellulose, hemicellulose, and fiber. 

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