Use of Nonionic Tween-80 Surfactant Mobile Phase in Thin Layer Chromatography of Heavy Metal Cations

The analytical potential of Tween-80, a nonionic surfactant used as a mobile phase in the thin layer chromatographic separation of heavy metal cations, is assessed. The surfactant concentrations, acidity and basicity of Tween-80solutions are investigated for the migration behavior of heavy metal cations on aminoplast+ cellulose mixture thin layer. The influence of weak or strong electrolyte and alkanol additives in the surfactant-containing mobile phase on the mobility of heavy metal cations on the aminoplast+ cellulose mixture thin layer is examined.