Metaphosphates paper chromatography

Fig. 16.29 Separation of polyphosphate anions by paper chromatography. The ions are first allowed to migrate in a basic solvent and subsequently in an acidic solvent. The straight-chain polypho.sphalcs lie on the ascending branch of the "Y, the metaphosphates on the lower branch. [From Van Wazer, J. R. Phosphorus and lls Compounds Wiley New York. 1958 Vol. I. p 702. Reproduced with permission.]...

P-, P-, P-P-, P-, P-0-P-, (-P-0-)3-ring, (-P-0-)4-ring, and long chain metaphosphate anions, can be separated by two-dimensional paper chromatography. Blaser and Worms (19,41,44,47,50,56,65) employed Grunze and Thilo s solvents (72) for the identification of various lower 0X0 acids of phosphorus. Using Thilo and Heinz s basic solvent (73), Hamisch (4) demonstrated the separation of many lower oxo acids of phosphorus. 

Even if the instrumental techniques gain ever more ground, some of them in automated form, evaluated and documented by computer, the simple, manual methods such as paper and thin-layer chromatography still have their role to play. One need only think of the separation of the various forms of phosphate such as orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, metaphosphate, polymeric phosphates and condensed phosphates, or the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (specifically with thin-layer chromatography) in water analysis. 

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