Purification of l-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine by column chromatography

Colorless l-alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine (l-α-GPC) was obtained at 99.8% purity, 69.8% recovery, and with a specific rotation of −2.5° via a five-step procedure. l-α-GPC was first produced by phospholipase A1 hydrolysis of soy lecithin powder. Ca2+ and Cl− were then effectively removed using two successive 001 × 7 cation and D311 anion exchange resin column chromatography procedures. Silica gel column chromatography and decoloration with active carbon were then applied to remove remaining impurities and colorant. Characterization of the l-α-GPC product was well in agreement with the standard. The resin and silica gel showed remarkable ability for l-α-GPC isolation after 10 uses. Thus, this study presents a simple and cost-effective method for preparing l-α-GPC with high yield and purity, low cost, and environmental friendliness, and encourages future investigation into its adaptation for industrial applications.