Retention behaviour of metal ions on tri- n-butyl phosphate- and tri- n-butyl amine-impregnated silica gel-G layers in oxalic acid–oxalate mobile phases

Abstract

The chromatographic behaviour of thirty metal ions was studied on tri- n-butyl phosphate- (TBP) and Tri- n-butyl amine- (TBA) impregnated silica gel-G layers in oxalic acid–oxalate mobile phases. The effects of TBP impregnation, pH of the mobile phase and p K 1 of metal oxalate complexes on R F values are discussed. For almost all metal ions, there is a sudden change in their chromatographic behaviour at 60% TBP impregnation. The mechanism of migration is explained in terms of adsorption, precipitation and complex formation.