Resumo:
A method for separation and determination of caffeine and theobromine in plant material by chromatographic column is presented. The alkaloids were extracted from the plant material (cocoa bean) by MgO powder, and separated in chromatographic column -using alumina (A1»0 :! ) as support and the solvent was 5% butanol in water washed chloroform. The compound present in the effluent was determinated by spectrofotometry at 276.5nm. The results obtained were considered satisfactory for both, standard and plant material alkaloids solutions.