150 3.9 mm, 5 lm) at flow rate of 0.8 ml min1, the separation of carmine and carminic acid was accomplished (Fig. 1). The analysis was completed within 7 min. Carmine was monitored at 281 nm, nearest to the maximum absorption by a photodiode array detector. The absorbance spectra for carmine and carminic acid were similar. Typical separation of a mixed standard solution show retention time of 4.5 and 5.6 min for carminic acid and carmine, respectively.