THE SEPARATION AND ANALYSIS OF URINARY OESTROGENS A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Countercurrent distr. of chemically separated estrogen fractions, analyzed both fluorometrically and biologically, demonstrated that separation of estriol from estrone and estradiol is difficult and uncertain by the method used. This consisted of acid hydrolysis, extraction with benzene, washing of the latter with 0.3 [image] Na2CO3, followed by water. The aqueous phase is acidified with HC1 to phenol red, and extracted with ether to obtain the estriaol-like phenol fraction. The benzene fraction was fractionated into ketonic and non-ketonic fractions. By this method, estradiol and estrone were satisfactorily separated from each other and from estriol. Bioassay and fluorometry give comparable results provided that the fractions are adequately purified. With impure fractions, neither method is reliable.