Thin-Layer Chromatographic Separation of Zinc from Cd(II), Hg(II), and Ni(II) in Environmental Samples Using Impregnated Silica Layers

Thin-layer chromatography in combination with spectrophotometry is employed for identification, isolation, and determination of zinc using thorium (Th4+) modified silica gel layers as the stationary phase and 1.0M sodium formate as the mobile phase. The presence of various anions in the sample does not hamper the separation of Zn2+ from Ni2+, Cd2+, or Hg2+. Zn-Ni and Zn-Cd separations are studied over a wide range of pH values (0.5–11.5) of sample solutions. Zn2+ is successfully recovered from soil, seawater, and river water samples. Zinc is also separated from nickel and quantitatively determined in industrial wastewater samples produced during the electroplating process.