Amino Acid Analysis

Post-Column Amino Acid Analysis: Onyx PCX Paired with any HPLC System

The Onyx PCX post-column derivatization instrument is designed for highly customizable Amino Acid Analysis, using our expertise in post-column technology to bring high performance when used alongside any manufacturer’s HPLC.   Pickering Laboratories provides a complete application solution, guaranteeing the chromatogram of any customer using our instrumentation and consumables, regardless of sample matrix.  We at Pickering Laboratories recommend the Onyx post-column system with one of our available Amino Acid Application Kits for any new user starting a new analysis in their laboratory. 

As a quick review, Pickering Laboratories, Inc. provides a complete solution to Amino Acid Analysis. We supply columns, eluants, reagents and post-column derivatization instruments that work seamlessly with virtually any modern HPLC, so we can guarantee the accuracy and reproducibility of the analysis. Our chemists will help you choose the method and instrumentation best suited to your requirements, answer your questions regarding sample matrices or target Amino Acids, and work with you on any custom method optimization and offer continuous support in day-to-day operation.

Post-Column Reagents for Amino Acids Analysis

Pickering Laboratories offers two post-column reagents for Amino Acid Analysis: our patented Ninhydrin reagent, called Trione®, and o-Phthalaldehyde (OPA) reagent. The choice of reagent is based on compounds of interest, sensitivity requirements and available instrumentation (Table 1). Both reagents can be used with any amino acid cation-exchange column and set of eluants.

Columns and Eluants (Mobile Phase Buffers)

We manufacture a wide range of cation-exchange columns and eluants to suit your analytical needs. Sodium cation-exchange chromatography is used for the fast analysis of amino acids commonly found in hydrolyzed protein samples or simple formulations. Lithium cation-exchange is a slower technique with higher resolution, used to separate up to 50 amino acids found in complex matrixes such as biological fluids, plant extracts, foods or beverages.

Tables 2 and 3 summarize Pickering Laboratories’ columns and eluants systems. Long columns (3.0 x 250 mm), despite having the longest run times, can be useful due to their unique selectivity, which allows separating of drug metabolites and other compounds not commonly found in native sam­ples. If you don’t find the compound of interest on the chromatograms shown on our website, please contact Pickering Laboratories for advice on which column is best suited for your analysis.

Pickering Laboratories, Inc. 1280 Space Park Way / Mountain View, CA 94043 / www.pickeringlabs.com

sales@pickeringlabs.com / support@pickeringlabs.com / 800-654-3330 / 650-694-6700