Thin-layer separation and low-temperature luminescence measurement of mixtures of carcinogens

Low-temperature fluorescence and phosphorescence characteristics of a number of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are reported. Complex mixtures of hydrocarbons are studied to determine the selectivity of low-temperature luminescence measurement. Low-temperature fluorimetry is applied to measure several hydrocarbon carcinogens after ethanolic extraction from thin-layer chromatograms. The method described permits determination of ca. 0.1 μg of most of the potent carcinogens.