A method for the estimation of micro amounts of amino nitrogen and its application to paper partition chromatography

Abstract

A method for determining micro amts. of alpha-amino N (1-50 [mu]g.) and peptide amino N (1-25 [mu]g.) uses the diethyldithiocarbamate reaction to determine the Cu in soluble Cu complexes. The method was applied to paper chromatograms of several amino acids and the losses during chromatography evaluated. The destruction of amino acids on heating the spots on paper chromatograms developed with ninhydrin was also studied. It was suggested that a decomposition product makes the reaction self-limiting.