The measurement of mass and size distributions, conformation, and branching of important food polymers by MALS following sample fractionation

Abstract

Three distinctive food polymers (ultra high molar mass amylopectin, guar gum, and hemi-cellulose) were chosen as model samples to illustrate the use of multi angle light scattering (MALS) detection in conjunction with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) separations for the characterization of such macromolecules. By combining SEC and MALS, absolute molar mass, rms radius and their distributions can be measured readily without reference to any molar mass standards and without the need to make structural assumptions. In addition, the conformation and branching of those polymers can be derived also.