Thin-layer chromatographic determination of aldehydes encountered in foods as dimethones, octahydroxantheines and barbiturates.

Aldehydes in foods can conveniently be characterized and determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) after converting them into their dimethones. For further confirmation the dimethones can be cyclized on the TLC plates or in solution to give octahydroxanthenes. Aldehydes also can be determined as their barbiturates. The aldehydes could be determined as dimethones and octahydroxanthenes in amounts up to 5 micrograms and as barbiturates in amounts up to 7.5 micrograms at their UV maxima.