Capillary electrophoresis of homogeneous pectin fractions

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been used to characterize pectin fractions obtained from mother samples of varying degrees (and intramolecular patterns) of methylesterification (DM). These samples have been carefully produced by fractionation, (a) from the original mother samples on the grounds of molar mass, and (b) subsequently from the daughter fractions so obtained, on the grounds of charge. The results confirm theoretical predictions regarding the dependence of electrophoretic mobility on molar mass and DM and give further evidence that CE is able to give realistic information regarding the intermolecular DM of pectins.