The determination of reducing sugars is shown to be possible by use of potentiometric detection with a metallic copper indicator electrode by either flow-injection analysis (FIA) or high-performance liquid chromatography. Various sugars including arabinose, maltose, sorbose, glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose and xylose, give an electrode response when injected into different carrier streams composed of cupric ions in weakly complexing ligand solutions comprised of either ammonia or tartrate. Optimization of response depends on flow-rate, temperature, pH, and concentrations of carrier components. Chromatography using a cation-exchange column and post-column addition of carrier reagents similar to those used for FIA is demonstrated to give detectable separation of four sugar components with umole injection quantities.
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