Thin-layer metallo-chromatography of lipids

Abstract

Work in our laboratory has shown that microcrystalline cellulose can be successfully used as an adsorbant in inorganic thin layer chromatography (TLC). This application includes a number of inorganic cations anions metal-EDTA complexes and transition metal complexes [1–4]. The incorporation of optically active quartz in the microcrystalline cellulose plate has given a satisfactory TLC separation of some optical isomers of transition metal complexes [5]. We now wish to report on the incorporation of various transition metal salts into the microcrystalline cellulose for the purpose of chromatographing lipids. Lipids have been separated on absorbant layers of silica gel contauning silver nitrate [6–7]. Unlike silica gel layers the microcrystalline cellulose plates do not have to be heated to activate them. A TLC one-dimensional separation technique on microcrystalline cellulose was developed which allows the separation of aliphatic lipids of the triglyceride type.