Analysis of Oligosaccharide in soft drinks Comparison with SCR-101N

Significance of the Topic

Accurate profiling of oligosaccharides in soft drinks ensures quality control, regulatory compliance, and consumer safety. Reliable sugar analysis is essential for verifying ingredient lists, detecting adulteration, and monitoring nutritional content in the beverage industry.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study compares two chromatographic media for soft-drink oligosaccharide analysis: the sodium-based ligand exchange column Shim-pack SUR-Na and the conventional SCR-101N column. Key goals include evaluating separation performance, retention characteristics, and suitability for routine sugar profiling.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Samples of various soft drinks were centrifuged at 10 000 rpm for 3 minutes and the clear supernatant injected. Separation was performed on a Shimadzu Nexera lite system under the following conditions:

• Column: Shim-pack SUR-Na, 250 mm × 7.8 mm I.D., 8 μm
• Guard column: Shim-pack SUR-Na (G), 50 mm × 7.8 mm I.D., 8 μm
• Mobile phase: Water
• Flow rate: 0.6 mL/min
• Column temperature: 80 °C
• Injection volume: 10 µL
• Detector: Refractive Index Detector (RID)

Main Results and Discussion

Comparison of chromatograms revealed that the SUR-Na column offered improved peak resolution of mono- and oligosaccharides in soft-drink matrices. Specific observations include:

• Clear separation of common sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose) and oligosaccharides within a 35 minute run time.
• Baseline stability and reduced peak tailing compared to SCR-101N.
• Consistent retention time for caffeine internal standard, enabling reliable alignment across runs.

The all-water mobile phase simplified operation and minimized solvent costs. High column temperature enhanced mass transfer, yielding sharper peaks.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The SUR-Na method provides a rapid, robust, and eco-friendly approach for routine sugar analysis in beverages. Key advantages:

• Elimination of organic solvents reduces environmental impact and operating expenses.
• Enhanced resolution supports detection of minor oligosaccharide species for detailed carbohydrate profiling.
• Compatibility with existing HPLC infrastructure facilitates straightforward method implementation.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances may include coupling the SUR-Na column with mass spectrometry for structural elucidation of unknown saccharides, extending application to dairy or plant extracts, and integrating high-throughput autosamplers for large-scale quality control. Development of miniaturized systems and greener chemistries will further streamline carbohydrate analysis.

Conclusion

The Shim-pack SUR-Na column, combined with refractive index detection, offers a powerful, solvent-free platform for comprehensive oligosaccharide analysis in soft drinks. Its superior resolution, operational simplicity, and environmental benefits make it an attractive choice for beverage quality testing.

Reference

Shimadzu Corporation. ERAS-1000-0552: Size Exclusion and Sodium-Based Ligand Exchange Mode – Shim-pack SUR-Na Application Note. First Edition, February 2024.