Determination of microamounts of zirconium(IV) and titanium(IV) with preliminary TLC separation

By the application of thin-layer chromatography on silica gel H and the solvent system consisting of 6 M HCl:acetylacetone: 9 M H₂SO₄ (60:2:1, v/v/v), zirconium and titanium have been quantitatively separated from each other, as well as from numerous other interfering ions. The efficiency of the chromatographic separation was evaluated by semiquantitative determination of zirconium and titanium by visual colorimetry of spots in situ, as well as by spectrophotometric determination of zirconium with rutin after its elution from silica gel H thin-layer.