A MICROMETHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF SUGARS

Certain pentoses and hexoses were determined by measuring spectrophotometrically the yields of furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural obtained on steam distilling with syrupy phosphoric acid. The yields, based on the theoretical recovery, were increased by increasing the temperature and the rate of steam distillation, and by decreasing the amount of sugar. At a steam rate producing 10 ml. per min. of distillate, at 195 °C. externally applied temperature, and with 2 mgm. sugar, the yields of aldehyde were from xylose 91.0%, ribose 74.9%, arabinose 60.6%, rhamnose 55.9%, galactose 20.0%, and glucose 15.5%. As little as 0.1 mgm. of each could be determined in this way, the mean deviation being usually less than ± 3% and the time required less than 10 min. Mixtures of sugars have been separated on a paper strip chromatogram and the individuals determined, without separate extraction, by steam distilling into phosphoric acid.