DETERMINATION OF GLYCEROL AND RELATED COMPOUNDS IN FERMENTATION SOLUTIONS BY PARTITION CHROMATOGRAPHY

A modified technique is described for applying partition chromatography, using a silica column, to the separation of simple organic compounds which are difficult to extract from water. An aqueous solution is pipetted directly on a Celite–water column the upper 15% of which has been left dry to receive it. Acetoin, 2, 3-butanediol, 1, 2-propanediol, ethanediol, glycerol, and erythritol can be separated from each other and from sugars and sugar alcohols containing five or more carbon atoms if the column is properly developed by ethyl acetate and benzene–butanol mixtures. After separation the compounds can be estimated by a rapid colorimetric determination of the acetaldehyde or formaldehyde formed by periodate oxidation. The recoveries are quantitative, thus making it possible to determine 1 to 2 mgm. of glycerol or 2, 3-butanediol within an error of ± 3% even when they are mixed with larger amounts of closely related compounds which cause interference in the usual methods.