[Quantitative separation of biological lipids by successive chromatographic runs on juxtaposed thin layers (author's...

During a study on incorporation of 14C-labeled precursors in biological lipids, we had to elaborate a method of quantitative separation of lipid classes, based upon three successive chromatographic runs on juxtaposed thin layers. The first thin layer, on which the lipid extract is applied, consists of silica gel alkalised by means of sodium hydroxide solution. The second thin layer is constituted only by silica gel G. The three one-dimensional migrations are respectively carried out in the following solvent systems: diethyl ether-hexane-benzene (55:30:15), hexane-benzene (80:20) and diethyl ether-benzene-acetic acid (62:20:18). The lipid fractions are scraped out and counted by liquid scintillation. The reproducibility of the whole operation is discussed.