Gas chromatographic analysis of bacterial amines as their free bases.

Columns of Chromosorb 103, Tenax-GC, Amine 220 plus potassium hydroxide on Chromosorb W, and Carbowax 20M plus potassium hydroxide on Chromosorb W were compared for their ability to separate bacterial amines as their free bases in aqueous solution. A 1.52 m X 0.6 cm O.D. column of Chromosorb 103 separated eleven amines when operated isothermally at 185 degrees C. A further four high-boiling amines could be separated at 240 degrees C. The other packings separated only eight amines isothermally, except for Tenax-GC which separated seven of the free bases. Chromosorb 103 performed less well than Carbowax 20 M plus potassium hydroxide with respect to number of plates or peak resolution. The maximum number of amines separated, thirteen, required Chromosorb 103 programmed from 170 degrees C to 230 degrees C at 3 degrees C min-1 after an initial holding time of 20 min. It was possible tentatively to identify amines in culture supernatant fluid of Proteus mirabilis, viz. ethylamine, isobutylamine and isoamylamine, after direct injection of culture supernatant fluid.