Experience the benefits of microwave-enhanced reaction rates in a microwave vapor-phase hydrolysis system.

The Discover Research System is a specially designed microwave instrument for controlling acid hydrolysis conditions. The fiber optic temperature option allows precise, direct temperature measurement and control of acid hydrolysis procedures. The 45-mL vapor-phase hydrolysis vessel allows processing of up to 10 (300-µL) samples at one time. The valve panel allows connection to a vacuum and nitrogen source. The sealed sample vessel is alternately vacuum evacuated and purged with nitrogen. Hydrolysis is performed under inert, anaerobic conditions to prevent oxidative degradation of proteins/peptides.

Vapor-Phase Microwave Synthesis
Reliable preparation of protein hydrolysates is the rate determining step for accuracy and precision in amino acid analysis. The widely used conventional protocol developed by Stein and Moore in the 1950’s involves heating samples in 6N HCL for periods of 24 hours or more.

Advances in HPLC instrumentation allow accurate analysis on minute amounts (<50 picomoles) of sample in less than one hour. Unfortunately, the improved sensitivity and separation times of amino acid analyzers are offset by the contamination, run to run variability, and time associated with conventional hydrolysis procedures.

Microwave hydrolysis represents an accurate and convenient alternative to conventional hydrolysis techniques. Protein hydrolysates can be prepared in less time than a single chromatographic run, eliminating this rate-limiting step or “bottleneck” in amino acid analysis without compromising accuracy and precision.

Microwave hydrolysis accelerates the rate of reaction without altering the fundamental chemistry of amino acid analysis. The same acids, protective agents and derivitization chemistries can be utilized in microwave hydrolysis techniques. It reduces the time required for cleavage of difficult to hydrolyze hydrophobic peptide linkages without excessive degradation of the labile amino acids: serine and threonine.