High performance liquid chromatography of chlorophylls c3, c1, and c2 and of carotenoids of chromophyte algae on a polymeric octadecyl silica column

Abstract

Photosynthetic pigments from chromophyte marine algae were analyzed using three different commercial columns with ODS stationary phases of different degrees of polymerization. No separation of chlorophylls c1 and c2 could be achieved using monomeric or intermediate stationary phases, even at subambient temperatures. As with other planar compounds, the polymeric stationary phase showed the highest selectivity for chlorophyll c pigments, allowing the simultaneous separation of chlorophylls c3, c1 and c2 and other pigments occurring in chromophyte algae by using a binary gradient starting with a highly buffered mobile phase.