A photometric method for quantitative paper partition chromatography of amino acids

Abstract

Due to the difficulties involved in the visual estimation of amino acids in protein hydrolysates from serial dilutions on chromatograms a very simple photoelectric method was devised to facilitate the accurate estimation of amino acid concentration. Sources of errors which must be avoided are temperature fluctuations of the chromatographic tank, non-uniform application of ninhydrin to the filter paper, too high amino acid concentrations and discolorations of the filter paper by organic solvents. The method was applied to the analysis of silk fibroin and values were obtained which agreed well with those determined by previous workers.