Patent ID: 7700745

Claim:
An in-line flow-injection separation method for cleaving a glycoside linkage of a glycoconjugate that is contained in a sample solution, the separation method consisting essentially of the steps of: (i) introducing a sample solution of the glycoconjugate into an alkaline solution continuously passing in a flow path, thereby mixing the alkaline solution and sample solution; (ii) heating the mixed solution to a temperature in the range of 60° C. to 150° C., while the alkaline solution and the sample solution are flowing in the flow path, thereby cleaving the carbohydrate from the glycoconjugate; (iii) removing the alkaline solution from the mixed solution by passing the mixed solution through an ion-exchange column; and (iv) collecting the separated carbohydrate cleaved from the glycoconjugate; wherein a period for mixing the alkaline solution and the sample solution at the temperature in the range of 60° C. to 150° C. is within 3 minutes, and wherein the alkaline solution is at a concentration in the range of 0.1 to 2.0 M.