Maple syrup, a common natural sweetener, is consumed regularly by households around the world. Quantification of sugar content in maple syrup is paramount to satisfy product labeling requirements and ensure label-claim accuracy. Although sucrose is the primary sugar component in maple syrup, a complete identification and quantification of the other complex carbohydrates, including glucose, fructose and maltose, is essential.
In this application note, a robust and efficient method for the determination of the four aforementioned complex carbohydrates is presented. Utilizing an LC 300 HPLC system, a hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) technique is utilized with subsequent detection achieved utilizing an LC 300 Refractive Index (RI) detector.