Rapid cation-exchange chromatography of hemoglobins and other proteins

A new, weak cation exchanger (MA7C) is useful for the very rapid resolution of protein mixtures. MA7C columns (30 X 4.6 mm I.D.) are packed with non-porous spherical particles (7-micron in diameter) having carboxylic acid ion-exchange groups. These columns can readily separate human hemoglobin A1c from other hemoglobin species in 7 min. Quantitative results agree well with those of accepted techniques. Other separations are possible with flow-rates up to 5 ml/min. Chromatography on MA7C columns is characterized by very narrow bandwidths, even at high flow-rates.