The determination of paraquat using thin-layer chromatography.

A thin-layer chromatographic method for the detection and determination of Paraquat in biological materials is presented. Paraquat was concentrated efficiently with the ion-exchange resin Dowex 50W-4 using a batch operation. Of the 16 solvent systems used the best results were obtained on silica gel G plates with methanol : 6N hydrochloric acid (20 : 30) or methanol : 6N sulfuric acid (20 : 30); and on cellulose plates with methanol : 6N hydrochloric acid (35 : 15) or methanol : 6N sulfuric acid (40 : 10). Also described is a microplate method for the thin-layer chromatography of Paraquat.