Soluble species of phosphorus, sulfur, selenium and eight metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo and Cd) in soybean flour and common white bean seeds were investigated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples were extracted by 0.02 mol l(-1) Tris-HCI buffer solution (pH 7.5). Fractionation of sample extracts by preparative scale SEC was accomplished using a Fractogel EMD BioSEC column (600 x 16 mm) and 0.02 mol l(-1) Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.5) as mobile phase (flow rate: 2 ml min(-1)). A 2-ml sample was injected. Contents of elements in chromatographic fractions were determined by AAS, ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The elution profiles of P, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mo in both samples were similar. Main species of Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mo were found in the low molecular weight region (2-5 kDa), whereas Fe is predominantly bound to high molecular weight compounds (180 kDa). The dominant phosphorus fraction was detected in the medium molecular weight region (10-30 kDa) and the other fraction in the low molecular weight region. Isotachophoretic analysis of chromatographic fractions revealed that the main phosphorus compound in the medium molecular weight region is phytic acid. SEC on Superdex 75 and Superdex Peptide columns (300 x 10 mm) was performed in on-line hyphenation with ICP-MS. The same mobile phase was used with a flow rate of 0.5 ml min(-1); volume of injected sample was 200 microl. Element specific chromatograms were obtained by continuous nebulization of effluent into ICP-mass spectrometer measuring intensities of 47(PO)+ and 48(SO)+ oxide ions and 55Mn, 57Fe, 59Co, 62Ni, 65Cu, 66Zn, 82Se, 95Mo and 114Cd nuclides. Chromatographic profiles of elements are generally analogous to those obtained with a Fractogel column, but better chromatographic resolution of separated species was achieved so that slight differences between samples were revealed. Estimated molecular weights of major phosphorus species in soybean flour and common white bean seed extracts are 6 and 3.6 kDa, respectively, whereas those of minor phosphorus species in both samples are 0.7 kDa. Traces of phosphorus were also detected in the high molecular weight region (130 kDa). Chromatograms of P, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mo compounds in both extracts are similar but not identical. Molecular weights of major Cu and Zn species are approximately 1 and 0.4 kDa for soybean flour and white bean seeds, respectively. In cases of Mn, Fe, Co and Se, the element profiles of soybean flour and white bean seed extracts are significantly different.