DuBois, M., Gilles, K. A., Hamilton, J. K., Rebers, P. A.,
& Smith, F. (1956). Colorimetric method for determination of 
sugars and related substances. Analytical chemistry, 28(3), 
350-356.

Abstract
Simple sugars, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and
their derivatives, including the methyl ethers with free
or potentially free reducing groups, give an orange yellow
color when treated with phenol and concentrated
sulfuric acid. The reaction is sensitive and the color
is stable. By use of this phenol-sulfuric acid reaction,
a method has been developed to determine submicro
amounts of sugars and related substances. In conjunction
with paper partition chromatography the method
is useful for the determination of the composition of
polysaccharides and their methyl derivatives.