Visualizing Agents for Esters of Higher Fatty Acids in TLC

Eighteen new agents have been used for visualizing eight esters of higher fatty acids after chromatography on silica gel, on a mixture of silica gel and kieselguhr, and on neutral aluminum oxide. Limits of detection (detectability, D), detectability index, and broadening index were determined for the esters investigated after use of the visualizing agents. For all the esters investigated the best detectability was obtained on the mixture of silica gel 60 and kieselguhr F254; it was worse on silica gel 60 F254 and worst on neutral aluminum oxide. Bromophenol blue was the best and most universal visualizing agent for all the esters investigated on all the chromatographic supports.