High-Performance Size-Exclusion Chromatography coupled with on-line Multi-angle Laser Light Scattering (HPSEC-MALLS)

High-Performance Size-Exclusion Chromatography (HPSEC) is widely used for the determination of the molar mass and size distribution of biopolymers in aqueous or organic solvents. Elements of the theory of fractionation by HPSEC, column calibration and online light scattering detection are given, showing that coupling HPSEC with multi-angle laser light scattering detection makes it easier to obtain molar mass distributions since light (MALLS) scattering gives the weight-average molar mass at each elution volume of the chromatogram. Some applications of HPSEC-MALLS for the macromolecular characterization of starches, glycogens, dextrans, celluloses, hemicelluloses, β-glucans, pectins, gums, alginates, carrageenans, chitosans, lignins, proteins and peptides are also presented.

Keywords: Cellulose, Chitosan, Gum, High-Performance Size-Exclusion Chromatography, Lignin, Multi-angle laser light scattering, Polysaccharide, Protein, Starch, Static and dynamic light scattering.