Laboratory contaminants in lipid chemistry: Detection by thin-layer chromatography and infrared spectrophotometry and some procedures minimizing their occurrence.

Many sources of contamination for lipid preparations exist in the laboratory. These contaminants can be detected using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and infrared spectroscopy. Numerous components that are potential contaminants and can lead to false analyses were demonstrated by TLC in laboratory soaps, cleaners, hand creams and lotions, hair tonics, laboratory greases, floor waxes, oil vapors, tobacco smoke, hydrocarbon phases for gas-liquid chromatography, etc. Procedures preventing introduction of contaminants are presented including descriptions of equipment and precautions to eliminate or minimize contamination. These are useful in isolation of pure polar and nonpolar lipids.