1Directorate of Forensic science Laboratories, Hans Bhugra marg, Kalina, Santa Cruz (E), Mumbai-400 098, Maharashtra state, India
2Madhavrao Patil college, A/P- Murum, Tal-Omerga, Dist-Osmanabad, Maharashtra state, India
Vegetable oils normally consist of higher unsaturated fatty acids and free fatty acids among others in varying amounts. A simple and sensitive method is described for identification and estimation of tricresyl phosphate (TCP), a toxic compound used as an adulterant for edible oils. Tricresyl phosphate was mixed in different edible oils groundnut oil, sunflower oil and olive oil. It showed spot at Rf 0.35–0.38 on HPTLC plate of Kieselgel 60F254after development in solvent system iso octane: ethyl acetate (9:1) and then observed under UV- 254nm. Further plate was scanned by using densitometer, TCP showed solid phase UV at ëmax – 200nm with typical shape. The spot of TCP is not observed in pure edible oils. The detection limit of TCP was found to 5 ng.
Tricresyl phosphate, Adulteration of edible oil, HPTLC and solid phase UV
