Total analysis of metallic ions by thin layer chromatography. 1

Studies on inorganic thin layer chromatography. I

Abstract

The separation and identification of 24 common metal ions have been made on a plate of 0.3mm thickness with HCl-treated silica gel containing 5% of soluble starch using 3 kinds of developing solvent.
An improvement of the developing chamber has been also made by consideration on the saturation of solvent. In the recommended procedure Ni, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Cr and (As) were separated first by acetone-3N HCl (99 : 1) and it was followed by the separation of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Al, NH₄, Na, K and Li by methanol-n- butanol-35% HCl (80 : 10 : 10).
Sb, As, (Cu), Cd, Sn, Bi, Zn and Hg were separated lastly by n-butanol-benzene-1N HNO₃- 1N HCl (50 : 46 : 2.6 : 1.4). The relation between composition of developing solvent and Rf values of ions as well as the mutual separation of the same elements (As, Sn, Fe, Sb, Hg etc.) with different ionic valencies has been investigated.