A gas chromatography approach to the determination of free amino acids in sugarcane juice.

Quantification of amino acids in sugarcane juice by gas chromatography has been reported for the first time. The method involves the removal of free amino acids from previously deproteinated cane juice by absorption onto cation exchange resin. Desorbed amino acids are then converted into their butyl esters which, when subjected to GC on a 50% phenyl-50% methyl polysiloxane (RTX-50) column, appear as individual peaks. The method thus developed has also been extended for investigating the free amino acids in sugarcane during its maturation period. Six well-known Indian sugarcane varieties were studied. The analytical data are likely to be useful for further investigation on the role of individual amino acids in sugarcane maturation.