Clinical Chemistry, Vol 3, 263-269, Copyright © 1957 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Partition Chromatography of Organic Acids in Body Fluids with Silica Gel

Application of the Method to Normal Human Urine

¹ Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, and the Department of Pediatrics, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.

1. A method for the extraction of non--amino organic acids from urine based on the work of Isherwood is described.

2. The relative position of elution of 42 biologically significant acids from silica gel columns is demonstrated. A number of important acids known to be present in urine are not eluted.

3. The partition chromatography of urinary organic acids reveals the presence of 9 peaks, of which 4 are known to be acetic, formic, lactic, and citric acids. A fifth peak contains glycolic and oxalic acids.

4. The aromatic acids are eluted principally in the first peak, which contains hippuric acids as a major constituent.

5. A minimum of two unknown organic acids are constantly present in relatively large concentrations in urine. Two additional acids appear frequently.