Limits of accuracy obtainable in the direct determination by fluorimetry of fluorescent whitening agents on thin layer chromatograms.
The quantitative direct determination of fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) by thin layer chromatography involves limits of detection of 0.001 to 0.0005 mug. Visual assessment is about ten to a hundred times less sensitive than photometric measurement on thin layer chromatograms. The standard deviations in 10 measurements of two substances with different degrees of light sensitivity for a single measurement with a limit of detection of the order of 0.005 mug were about +/-13% to 44%. In the higher concentrations normally used (0.5 mug), the standard deviations were only +/-5% for both substances.
D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D012995:Solubility; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000032:analysis
D013267:Stilbenes