Date: 16-APR-2026   Last Updated: 17-APR-2026

An Analysis of Sugars Found in Energy Drinks

This application note demonstrates a single HPLC–ELSD method for the simultaneous separation and detection of polar compounds typically found in energy drink formulations, eliminating the need for derivatization. This method is simple, robust, and well suited for routine quality control and formulation verification.

Peaks:
1. Sucralose
2. Caffeine
3. Erythritol
4. Taurine
 

Method Conditions
Column:  Cogent Diamond Hydride™, 4 µm, 100 Å
Catalog No.:   70000-10P
Dimensions: 4.6 x 100 mm 
Mobile Phase: 90% Acetonitrile 10% DI Water + 0.1% Formic Acid
Flow Rate: 1.0mL / minute
Injection Volume: 3uL
Detection:  ELSD  (Evaporative Light Scattering Detector)  Gain: 8; Temperature: 50°C;


Sample Preparation:

t0: 1.17 minutes

Note:   Taurine is named after the Latin word  taurus  (bull) as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by German scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin.

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