Indirect determination of carbohydrates in wort samples and dietetic products by capillary electrophoresis

The first total separation by electrophoresis of five carbohydrates, sucrose, maltotriose, maltose, glucose and fructose, is described. The basic technique requires 1‐naphthylacetic acid as background electrolyte at pH 12.5, indirect UV detection at 222 nm, with a capillary of 75 µm × 120 cm and a voltage of 25 kV. Linear calibration curves from 50 to 400 mg l^?1 with a good correlation coefficient were obtained. The method has been used to determine carbohydrates during the brewing process of a non‐alcoholic beer and also to analyse the carbohydrate content of dietetic fruit juices and chocolate. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry