Preparative-scale separation of colistin sulphate bulk sample was carried out on a preparative poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) stationary phase. Isocratic elution with acetonitrile-sodium sulphate solution (0.7% m/v; pH adjusted to 2.5 with TFA) - water (16:50:34, % v/v/v) was carried out at a flow rate of 4.0 ml min(-1). Six colistin components were isolated and characterized using 1H and 13C NMR. The molecular weights were confirmed by mass spectrometry. The structures of 2 components were determined for the first time. Polymyxin E7 was identified as having the same composition as polymyxin E1, except that the fatty acid moiety was 7-methyloctanoic acid. Isoleucine polymyxin E8 was characterized as having the same composition as isoleucine polymyxin E1 with 7-methylnonanoic acid as the fatty acid moiety.