SIMPLE CHROMATOGRAPHY

PAPER PROS
● Separates compounds in short amount of
time
Method: ● Cheaper technique
1. A drop of the mixture is spotted on the edge of ● Easy to handle and setup
the paper
2. Small volume of solvent is added to container CONS
3. Paper is held up in container and lid is closed ● volatile substances cannot be separated
4. Once the solvent has reached to the top paper is using paper chromatography
removed and left to dry, forming a chromatogram ● Less accurate
● Data can’t be saved for long periods
As the solvent soaks up the paper, it carries
the mixture with it.
Different components of the mixture will
move at different rates. This separates the
mixture

The dyes that are able to dissolve easily in

the solvent will be able to travel the furthest
on the paper.
THIN LAYER
● Similar process to paper but with glass or plastic
Method
coated in a thin layer of alumina or silica
1. Prepare beaker with solvent
Advantages Disadvantages 2. On TLC plate, draw the baseline
3. Place the pure reference on left of line and
Non-volatile compounds can Results obtained are difficult
analysed spot on right. Allow to air dry
be separated to reproduce
4. Place TLC in beaker (solvent can't cover the
spots) and place a lid
5. As solvent reaches top, remove plate and
Fewer equipment needed Only for soluble mixture draw the solvent front
and in a short time components

All components if uv light is Humidity and temperature

able to visualise can affect results
Phases
● Stationary phase- usually thin metal sheet coated in alumina or silica
● Solute molecules adsorb, allowing separated components to travel
depending on strength of interactions
● Mobile phase- flows over stationary phase
● Polar (water) or non-polar liquids (alkanes ) carries components
COLUMN
Stationary phase is alumina or silica packed into a tube, usually a burette.
Mobile phase is the solvent.
Method:
- The stationary phase is soaked in solvent.
- The mixture is placed on top of the stationary phase
- More solvent is added on top
- Open the tap to allow the solvent to drip through the tip
- The components of the mixture begins to move down the tube and separate.
- More solvent is added until one component leaves the column and can be collected
in a container.
- Experiment continued until all the components are separated.
PROS

- Complex mixtures can be separated

- Any amount of mixture can be separated
using this technique
- The separated analytes can be reused.
- Process can be automated

CONS

- Time-consuming
- Expensive as higher quantities of solvents
required
- The automated process becomes
complicated and therefore costly