| Abstract: | The optical isomers of amino acids can be easily separated by gas chromatography using capillary columns coated with the chiral polysiloxane peptide, Chirasil-Val. Quantitative trace amino acid analysis in complex mixtures such as biological fluids, sea water, or protein hydrolysates can be achieved by enantiomer labeling: The D-amino acid enantiomers, which do not occur naturally, are added to the sample prior to analysis as internal standards. Because the D-enantiomers show the same physical and chemical properties as the natural L-enantiomers, they are ideal standard references. In routine analysis, the derivatization is achieved with a new automated derivatization robot. The D-standard serves as overall internal standard for the whole analytical procedure from sample enrichment to derivatization, chromatography, and response of the detector. |
