Separation of algal organic osmolytes by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method is described for the separation and quantification of a range of low-molecular-weight organic solutes, which are major osmolytes, in crude ethanolic extracts of marine algae. The method relies on the use of a silica amine modified column and refractive index detection. The acetonitrile to water ratio was varied to maximise separations. The method is suitable for the detection of simple carbohydrates, amino acids and their derivatives and is particularly suitable for the separation of the isomeric hexitols, altritol and mannitol, found in the brown alga Himanthalia elongata .