Mucilage has been isolated from a plant material by extraction with sodium carbonate solution and precipitating the same by change of pH to acidic condition.
What tests need to be done to determine the protein and corbohydrate content?
What are the economic methods for structure elucidation of same?
Udaykumar Vegad
For Protein Content:
Kjeldahl Method, Bradford Assay, Lowry Assay, Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) Assay.
For Carbohydrate Content:
Phenol-Sulfuric Acid Method, Anthrone Method, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
Here are some of the methods for Structural Elucidation:
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): for identifying functional groups and overall chemical composition. It can reveal the presence of polysaccharides, proteins, and other components in the mucilage.
Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy: To detect chromophores in the mucilage and provide insights into conjugated systems.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy: Utilizing 1H NMR and 13C NMR can yield detailed information about the mucilage's chemical structure.
Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) or Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC): For assessing the molecular weight distribution of the mucilage, which is crucial for understanding its structural characteristics.
Polarimetry: To determine the optical rotation of the mucilage, providing information about optically active components.
Gravimetric Analysis: To determine the total polysaccharide content in the mucilage by precipitating the polysaccharides and measuring their mass.