A novel thin-layer chromatography method to screen 1,3-propanediol producers.

To date, there is no established protocol for the screening of 1,3-propanediol producers. The proposed method has a wide applicability to harness the commercial potential of microorganisms which produce 1,3-propanediol as the end product. Glycerol fermentation broth of 50 bacteria spotted on thin-layer chromatography plates and run by appropriate solvent systems followed by colour development using vanillin reagent gave different coloured spots with most of the compounds present in the fermentation broth. The appearance of a purple-coloured spot of 1,3-propanediol with a retention factor (R(f)) of 0.62 forms the basis for the selection of 1,3-propanediol producers. Apart from being a rapid detection system the proposed method is pH independent and its authenticity was reconfirmed by HPLC.