Glyoxal dithiosemicarbazone as a complexing and chromogenic spray reagent in inorganic TLC

Summary Systematic TLC separations, identification of cations and the determination of the limits of their identification on microcrystalline cellulose layers, incorporating glyoxal dithiosemicarbazone (H₂-GDTS) as a spray reagent have been worked out. Metal-GDTS complexes have also been separated on silica gel G support. Detection called for no spray reagent, owing to the intense and characteristic colours of the complexes.