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Identification of elementary sulfur and sulfur compounds in lipid extracts by thin‐layer chromatography
Author(s) -
Murphy Mary T. J.,
Nagy Bartholomew,
Rouser George,
Kritchevsky Gene
Publication year - 1965
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02540088
Subject(s) - chemistry , thin layer chromatography , sulfur , chromatography , silver nitrate , silica gel , meteorite , organic chemistry , physics , astronomy
Elementary sulfur, long chain thiols and sulfides in lipid mixtures can be separated and identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC), preparation of derivatives, development of typical flourescent colors with Rhodamine 6G under ultraviolet light, and colors with other spray reagents. Silica gel mixed with magnesium silicate and the same adsorbent plus silver nitrate are used for polar stationary phase and silver nitrate complexing chromatography, respectively. Elementary sulfur yields a purple fluorescent spot with Rhodamine 6G in contrast to the yellow fluorescent of most lipids. Compounds isolated by means of TLC were further identified by spectroscopic methods. The sulfur bacterium ( Chromatium sp. ), and the Orgueil carbonaceous meteorite were analyzed by the new technique. Elementary sulfur was identified in both samples, but the lipid compositions of the bacteria and meteorite were found to be entirely different. The meteorite lipids and hydrocarbons were also different from the abiological hydrocarbons synthesized in a Miller high frequency spark discharge experiment. The new analytical technique is suitable for the analysis of recent biological matter, petroleum, bitument and organic matter from marine sediments.