[Use of column and thin layer chromatography for detection of vanillyl mandelic acid in urine]

The excretion of vanillylmandelic acid was measured by column chromatography of urinary samples on aluminum oxide with subsequent thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. Use of aluminum oxide allowed application of greater urine samples (up to 0.1% of 24-h diuresis) onto chromatographic plates and essentially improved the quality of separation of vanillylmandelic acid from other phenylcarbonic acids by thin-layer chromatography, as well as the specificity and reproducibility of measurements.