Analysis of bacterial fermentation products by isotachophoresis

Abstract

Various carboxylic acids from bacterial fermentation could easily be separated by isotachophoresis. The analyses were performed on an LKB 2127 Tachophor, and under the conditions used the maximum amount of sample that could be quantitatively estimated was approximately 0.1 nmol. The reproducibility of the method was good (ca. 5%). The time of analysis using a 23 cm column was 12 min. No pretreatment of the samples was required. By using this procedure, formate, phosphate, lactate, and acetate were identified in dental plaque from conventional rats. The estimation of acid fermentation products in common broth cultures of Streptococcus mutans was also possible.