Phosphorus determination in phosphoglycerides from thin-layer chromatograms

Phosphoglyceride phosphorus is readily determined directly on silica gel removed from thin-layer chromatograms, without elution, by a nondigestive procedure with a sulfuric-periodic acid reagent. The method is specific for hydrolyzable phosphoglyceride containing two acid-hydrolyzable groups. Cariolipin reacts only partially, while sphingomyelin, diether lecithin, and phosphonate cephalin fail completely to react.