Investigation of the migration behaviour of aromatic amines on silica layer using nonionic surfactant containing mobile phases: Mixed surfactants assisted separations

Migration behaviour of important aromatic amines on silica gel layers has b een investigated using mobile phases containing a nonionic surfactant (Trit on X-100) over a wider concentration range (0.001-0.1M). Effect of factors such as pH of mobile phase and the presence of electrolyte (NaCl, NaBr), no n-electrolyte (urea) and alcohol (MeOH, EtOH, PrOH, BuOH) additives on the mobility of amines was also examined. The results obtained with surfactant containing mobile phases were compared with those obtained in the absence o f surfactant. The main chromatographic characteristics and separation condi tions for mixtures of amines on silica plates with Triton X-100 containing mobile phases were determined. As a first attempt, aqueous solutions of mix ed surfactants (Triton X-100 plus sodium dodecyl sulphate, SDS) have been u tilized for superior thin layer chromatographic separations of aromatic ami nes.