Influence of Temperature of Silica Gel Activation on Separation of Selected Biologically Active Steroid Compounds

Abstract

Selected steroid compounds (androsterone, epi‐androsterone, dehydro‐epi‐androsterone, testosterone, stigmasterol, β‐sitosterol, estradiol, hydrocortisone, and cholesterol) were separated by adsorption TLC on silica gel 60, not activated, and activated at temperatures of 100°C, 120°C, 150°C, and 200°C, during 15, 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively. The mixture of chloroform and acetone (85∶15, v/v) was used as mobile phase. The lowest R_F values of particular substances investigated were obtained on chromatographic plates precoated by silica gel activated at a temperature of 120°C. The time and activation temperature of silica gel influenced the order of substances adsorbed, the values of separation factors: ΔR_F, R_F ^α and α. None of the chromatographic conditions used allowed for the separation of the following pairs of substances: androsterone‐dehydro‐epi‐androsterone, and testosterone‐estradiol.

Keywords:

• TLC
• Separation
• Steroid compounds
• Drugs
• Activation of silica gel
• Temperature

Acknowledgment

This research was financed by the Ministry of Science and Information Society Technologies by resources reserved for science in the years 2005–2008 as research project No. 3 T09A 155 29.