Thin-layer chromatographic separation and determination of dibutylphosphoric acid in a mixture of monobutylphosphoric acid and tributyl phosphate

Abstract

A thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) technique using a silica gelcellullose plate has been developed for the separation of a mixture of monobutylphosphoric acid (H2MBP), dibutylphosphoric acid (HDBP) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) and for the determination of HDBP. The technique involves initial separation on a TLC plate followed by the determination of isolated HDBP by an indirect spectrophotometric method whereby the concentration of HDBP is measured by its ability to reduce the colour intensity of a thoriumthoron complex at 545 nm. Less than 1 pg of H2MBP and HDBP can be detected on the TLC plate. The method is suitable for the determination of 40-260 pg of HDBP.

Studies on Pu238 induced alpha radiolysis of the solvent TBP

“…These methods include ion chromatography [32], liquid chromatography [33], gas chromatography [34,35], and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [36]. The most commonly studied degradation products are HDBP and H 2 MBP.…”

Functional group analysis

“…The determination of dibutylphosphoric acid in the presence of monobutylphosphoric acid and tributyl phosphate depends on its separation from the mixture by TLC. The separated analyte is mixed with a Th-Thoron complex and its concentration measured by the extent to which it reduces the color of the complex (275).…”