Abstract
SAMPLES of human urine have been examined for indole and phenol acids as a matter of routine in this laboratory for several months; the methods used for extraction and two-dimensional paper chromatography were described earlier1,2. The chromatograms were satisfactory until certain days in April, when the normally pink and purple spots given by indoles with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde showed a diminished colour intensity and brown discoloration. The colours became so weak in May that indole spots could not be seen with certainty. Unlike the indoles, the phenolic acids gave colours which were normal immediately after spraying with diazotized sulphanilic acid, but which faded and were discoloured afterwards to an increasing extent. No improvement was obtained when the components of the chromatographic solvents were purified extensively.
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SHAW, K., TREVARTHEN, J. Effect of Atmospheric Contaminants on Paper Chromatography of Urinary Indole and Phenol Acids. Nature 182, 664 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/182664a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/182664a0
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