The examination of tocopherols by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography and subsequent colorimetric determination

Abstract

A two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic system has been used to separate tocopherols and tocotrienols before determining them by the Emmerie-Engel reaction. Reproducible recoveries of about 92 per cent. were obtained with authentic tocopherols and the method was used to determine tocopherols and tocotrienols in several vegetable oils. A compound, apparently plastochromanol, has been identified in some oils.