Thin layer chromatography of certain preformed metal complex dyes used in biological staining

Thin-layer chromatographic systems are described for the analysis of various performed metal complex dyes (aluminon-chromium (III), carminic acid-aluminum, carminic acid-chromium (III), carminic acid-iron (III), celestine blue-chromium (III), gallamine blue-chromium (III), gallocyanin-chromium (III), hematein-aluminum, hematein-chromium (III), purpurin-aluminum) and their parent dyes. Certain of these dyes have also been analysed by agar-gel electrophoresis or gel-filtration chromatography. The merits of the three analytical methods are discussed.