Paper chromatography

The paper chromatography, paper chromatography in the default language also, is a chromatographic separation method for small amounts of substance in which a fine filter paper stationary (dormant ) phase and a solvent is the mobile ( moving ) phase.

Method

The dissolved sample is placed in a small drop on the filter paper, he also usually one or more drops with one or more known reference substance (s). The dried filter paper is placed or hung that the paper does not touch the glass wall in a closed glass vessel. The starting point is at the lower end as far from the edge of the paper that he is not immersed in the solvent. By capillary action, the solvent rises up and transported with the substances being obtained by the interaction (adsorption and desorption ) of the substance to the paper, more precisely with the atmospheric moisture it contained water, a substance-specific migration rate. This separation process is also called " ascending " paper chromatography and is more common than the so-called " descending " paper chromatography.

In use is adjacent to the one-dimensional paper chromatography, the two-dimensional paper chromatography (two times, passage of the substance during rotation of the chromatogram by 90 ° ) for the separation of complex mixtures, such as amino acids from proteins. Colorless samples are taken after the drying of the chromatogram visualized with a reagent, wherein amino acids, for example, by spraying Ninhydrin.

Paper chromatography is well suited as a student experiment, because without risk using simple means an important analytical procedure itself can be performed. Thus, for example, the dye composition of different felt pen ink are investigated. Water is used as solvent. In addition to the chromatographic principle of this even basic knowledge of subtractive color mixing are taught.

Prize-giving

The Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1952 was awarded to Archer John Porter Martin and Richard Laurence Millington Synge for the development of this type of chromatography.