Use of a microbore ODS column for the separation of paprika [Capsicum annuum] pigments by high performance liquid chromatography

The colour pigments of paprika (Capsicum annuum) were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using normal (4 mm I.D.) and microbore (2 mm I.D.) C18 silica columns and gradient elution (water-acetonitrile-methanol). The relative standard deviation of retention times (lower than 1.5%) and that of peak areas (3-5%) were similar for both columns proving the good stability of the HPLC system. The high standard deviation of peak areas may be due to the presence of overlapping peaks. The number of separated pigment fractions was considerably higher on microbore (75) than on normal ODS column (34) proving the superiority of microbore column. Les objectifs de cette etude sont la separation des pigments du paprika sur une microcolonne ODS (octadecylsilice) et la comparaison de l'efficacite de la separation avec une colonne ODS traditionnelle. La deviation relative standard des temps de retention et des aires de pic sont similaires pour les 2 colonnes montrant la bonne stabilite du systeme HPLC. Le nombre de fractions de pigment separees est considerablement superieur sur la microcolonne ODS.