PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY

What is paper chromatography?

Analytical technique used to separate the pigments into individual components and to identify those components.

Introduction to chromatography
Mobile phase: The phase that does move. A suitable liquid solvent or a mixture of solvents.

Stationary phase: The phase that doesnt move and it is a very uniform absorbent paper.

 Capillary action: Draw liquid upwards against the forces of gravity.

Types of solvents: Non-polar solvents - Eg. hexane. Non-polar molecules will have little attraction for the water molecules attached to the filter paper. Polar-solvents - Eg. Ethanol. They have a high attraction for the water molecules . So they travel slower up the filter paper.

TECHNIQUE
Rectangular shaped strip of filter paper is cut from a sheet filter paper. A droplet of ink is placed on the center and is left to dry. A beaker is filled with about 1 cm or inch of ethanol. The strip of paper is placed into the glass so that it is vertical. It is important that the coloured mark does not go below the ethanol which means that the ink shouldnt touch the solvent. After a few moments the ethanol will start moving up (developing) the strip of paper by capillary action. As the ethanol is moving upward between the paper fibers it will carry the ink.

RETENTION FACTOR, (RF)

The ratio of the distance traveled by the substance to the distance traveled by the solvent. A dimensionless quantity with values always between 0 and 1. Every compound have a specific Rf value for every specific solvent and solvent concentration. Rf values do not have units since it is a ration of distances.

Rf value = Distance travelled by Solute Distance travelled by Solvent

APPLICATION OF PAPER CHROMATOGRAPHY

Agriculture field

Microbiology
Forensic science

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages

- Quick to conduct - Easy to learn and master the procedure

- Components of some mixture very hard to separate using simple technique.

- Small amount of solvent needed - Small amount of sample needed

- Colourless sample difficult to observe.