Ion chromatographic separation of polyamines: putrescine, spermidine and spermine

This study has been aimed at the development of a cation-exchange chromatographic method for the separation and the determination of some polyamines of relevant biological importance (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) after post-column derivatisation with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) and UV detection at 330nm. The experimental approach includes, firstly, the optimisation of the detector response through the composition of the derivatisation mixture. Subsequently, the optimisation of separation of analytes was performed through the evaluation of retention on different cation-exchange columns (IonPac CS2, CS3 and CS15) at different type (HClO4 and HCl) and concentrations of acid and in presence of acetonitrile, when allowed by the properties of the stationary phases, in the eluent. The study pointed out that the best separation results can be obtained with an IonPac CS15 column, in presence of Cl- as counter anion and gradient elution. Applications to food samples analysis are shown.