Isolation of Some Organic Acids in the Presence of Pyruvic Acid

Abstract

SUMMARYLower volatile fatty acids, formic acid and lactic acid were isolated by partition chromatography in the presence of pyruvic acid. It appeared that previous conversion of pyruvic acid to acetic acid was necessary. Acetic acid could then be determined in a second sample.A detailed description of the method is given.In an attempt to isolate lower volatile fatty acids and lactic acid we had to take account of a possible contamination by pyruvic acid, For these reasons we present in this paper a separation by chromatography on an acidified silica gel column, with special reference to the very labile character of pyruvic acid.