Chromatographic studies of some cephalosporins on thin layers of silica gel G–zinc ferrocyanide

A simple, selective and precise thin‐layer chromatographic method has been developed for the analysis of eight cephalosporin antibiotics, namely cephadroxil, cephalexin, cefixime, cefaclor, cefpodoxime proxetil, cefuroxime axetil, cefotaxime sodium and ceftriaxone sodium. The hR_F values of these cephalosporins were investigated on silica gel G–zinc ferrocyanide layers. Mixing of zinc ferrocyanide with silica gel G resulted in a decrease in hR_F values, removal of tailing and better resolutions. The influence of silica gel G–zinc ferrocyanide ratio and mobile phases on the chromatographic behavior of cephalosporins on thin layers was investigated. Cephalosporins were selectively separated in their binary and ternary synthetic mixtures and pharmaceutical formulations. Quantitative separations of cephalosporins from their synthetic mixtures were also achieved with good recoveries (97.8–100.3%). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.