Cation analysis by thin-layer chromatography and reflectance spectroscopy : Part II. The determination of copper,nickel and zinc

A method has been developed whereby micro quantities of copper, nickel and zinc resolved on cellulose chromatoplates can be analyzed in situ by means of reflectance spectroscopy. Copper and nickel were determined in the presence of 11 other cations without any interference by employing neocuproine and dimethylglyoxime, respectively, as chromogenic reagents. In the case of zinc, the use of 3,3'-dimethyl-naphthidine was equally successful except in the presence of tin, cadmium and iron. Deviations to be expected when the procedure is employed routinely to determine nickel, copper and zinc, were estimated to be 2.1, 2.8 and 5.6%, respectively.