QUANTITATIVE THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF DENTAL BASEALLOYS

In the corrosively aggressive medium of the oral cavity, the use of id entical dental alloys requires identification of the existing metal co nstruction. One of the methods allowing this identification is quantit ative thin-layer chromatography with anodic sampling. Using a 4.5-V ba ttery and suitable electrolytes, seven dental alloys for fixed and rem ovable dentures based on cobalt were analysed. Chromatograms of alloy samples were developed with a mixture of acetone and 2 M HCl. Scanning of the thin-layer chromatographic spots produced chromatographic curv es and the area under the curve was proportional to the content of cob alt in the alloy studied. Regression analysis showed a very high coeff icient of correlation (r =0.999) between the area of the spot and the proportion of cobalt. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.