Separation of non-esterified chlorophyls by ion-suppression high-performance liquid chromatography

Improved method to track chlorophyll degradation

An analytical method capable of identifying >30 chlorophyll-related compounds in plant extracts has been developed. The method employs liquid chromatography coupled to UV-vis, MS, and MS/MS detection. It can be applied without modification to analyze natural chlorophyll degradation products and other metalloporphyrines. It was successfully applied to identify chlorophyll derivatives found in rehydrated spinach powder and conventionally canned and Veri-Green-processed beans. In the Veri-Green-processed beans several degradation products were identified that are zinc-containing analogues to the chlorophyll derivatives found in vegetables after conventional canning. They have been characterized by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

High-performance liquid chromatographic screening of chlorophyll derivatives produced during fruit storage

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array and fluorescence detection was applied to the systematic screening of chlorophylls and derivative pigments. The chromatographic procedure proposed made it possible to successfully separate and identify eight chlorophyll derivatives (the a and b forms of chlorophyll, chlorophyllide, pheophytin and pheophorbide) by using a linear gradient of methanol, acetone and ammonium acetate. The method has been routinely applied to study chlorophyll degradation during the postharvest storage of cherimoya (Annona cherimola, Mill.) fruits. The brilliant green colour even at maturity, and its high chlorophyllase and Mg-dechelating activities, indicate that this plant material might be suitable for investigating the as yet not well known chlorophyll breakdown processes.

Polyethylene-based high-performance liquid chromatography of chloroplast pigments: resolution of mono- and divinyl chlorophyllides and other pigment mixtures

In addition to most chlorophylls and their derivatives, monovinyl and divinyl chlorophyll species were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography, using a polyethylene column and a simple elution with aqueous acetone. Peak retention and resolution of the pigment separation were greatly increased by increasing the polarity of the mobile phase and also by decreasing the column temperature. Polyethylene chromatography showed chlorophyll separation behavior similar to that of the octadecyl silica column, but it showed no adsorption of the pigment species containing free carboxylic acid groups, enabling the complete separation of chlorophylls and their derivatives. Polyethylene is a superior alternative stationary phase to the known reversed-phase materials for chlorophyll separation and analysis.