Multifunctional-Separation-Mode Ion Chromatography Method for Determining Major Metabolites during Multiple Parallel Fermentation of Rice Wine

Facile and effective analysis methods are desirable for elucidating the behaviours of metabolites during fermentation reactions. Herein, a multifunctional-separation-mode ion chromatography (MFS-IC) method was developed for the simultaneous monitoring of major metabolites during multiple parallel fermentation, including those related to central carbon metabolism (saccharification, glycolysis, alcoholic fermentation, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle). The use of two types of sulfo-modified size-exclusion columns and phthalic acid as the eluent allowed the separation of oligosaccharides (disaccharides, trisaccharides, and tetrasaccharides), glucose, pyruvate, and major organic acids during the TCA cycle (