Chromatographic behaviour of nucleic acid constituents and of phenols on chitosan thin layers.

The chromatographic characteristics of several nucleic acid constituents and of 36 phenols have been investigated on mixed layers of powdered chitosan and microcrystalline cellulose, with water, water-methanol mixtures and aqueous salt solutions at different pH values at mobile phases. The behaviour of the phenols was strongly correlated with the form in which these compounds were present in solution and therefore with the pH of the eluent. Chitosan was more effective than PEI- and DEAE-cellulose as adsorbent in separating phenols. Analytical applications of chitosan layers are reported.