An improved process for separating and isolating individual polar protic
monomer(s) and / or
oligomer(s) on the basis of
degree of polymerization. A liquid sample containing polar protic
monomer(s) and / or
oligomer(s) is introduced into a liquid
chromatography (LC) column packed with a polar bonded stationary chromatographic phase. The individual polar protic
monomer(s) and / or
oligomer(s) are separated via a binary mobile phase
elution. One or more individual fractions containing the monomer(s) and / or oligomer(s) are eluted. The polar protic monomer(s) and / or oligomer(s) may be proanthocyanidins, hydrolyzable tannins, oligosaccharides, oligonucleotides, peptides, acrylamides,
polysorbates, polyketides, poloxamers,
polyethylene glycols, polyoxyethylene alcohols or polyvinyl alcohols. The binary mobile phase comprises an A phase consisting essentially of a polar aprotic
solvent and a B phase consisting essentially of a polar
protic solvent. A process for separating and isolating
xanthine(s) (e.g.,
caffeine and
theobromine) from polar protic monomer(s) and / or oligomer(s). A liquid sample containing
xanthine(s) and polar protic monomer(s) and / or oligomer(s) is introduced into an LC column packed with a polar bonded stationary chromatographic phase. The xanthines are separated via an isocratic mobile phase
elution, and one or more individual fractions containing the xanthines are eluted.