Application of thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection to the characterization of organic extracts...

Thin-layer chromatography with flame ionization detection has been applied to the analysis of organic extracts of diesel exhaust particulates. Non-volatile organics whose boiling points are higher than ca. 300 degrees C can be analyzed, with a detection limit of ca. 0.03 micrograms and a relative standard deviation of ca. 10%. The organic extracts are separated into aliphatics , aromatics and polars by the development procedure with n-hexane, and the polars can be separated further by using toluene as the solvent. Some examples of application are presented.