Indirect detection thin layer chromatography of cations

Abstract

A chemical analysis method for indirect detection thin layer chromatography of cations that provides a rapid indication of the amount and type of cation present with minimal equipment requirements. The method includes four steps. The first step is to equilibrate a thin layer cation exchange chromatography plate with a color-forming cation, such as with copper II, to form a prepared plate. The second step is to deposit a sample on the prepared plate to form a spotted plate, the sample containing a cation of interest, such as sodium I. The third step is to develop the spotted plate with a liquid solution containing the color-forming cation, such as a solution of copper II ions, to chromatograph the cation of the sample to form a developed plate. The last step is to expose the developed plate to a chemical agent, such as ammonia, to visualize the color-forming cation by a chemical reaction between the chemical agent and the color-forming cation to form a colored species, such as the blue colored copper II/ammonia complex. When this is done, the chromatographed sample cation is apparent as region of less intense color in a field of color on the plate generated by the colored species.

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