Activity No.

11

Thin Layer Chromatography and

Column Chromatography

Group 4
Montes, Marie Therese Ann J.
Magan, Quinone
Mocorro, Maria Aiza L.
Obsioma, Jade A.
Perez, Jhonna lyn B.

BS Chemistry 2H1

Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1

Anorico, Nova Fe E.

November 18, 2021

 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Rationale of the Experiment

Chromatography is a technique used in the separation of compounds on the

basis of differences in polarity. Chromatography has two types: Thin layer
chromatography and Column chromatography. Thin Layer Chromatography is a
technique used to isolate non-volatile mixtures (BYJU’S, 2021). This technique is also
used to determine the purity of a compound, monitor a reaction, and identifying
compounds. To conduct the experiment, TLC plates are used.

Silica gel, a highly porous, noncrystalline form of silica used to remove

moisture from gases and liquids, to thicken liquids, to impart a dull surface to paints
and synthetic films, and for other purposes (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013). In TLC
plates, a thin layer of silica gel is spread out on a glass surface. The structure of the
silicate material causes components of the mixture to separate, hence being widely used
as an adsorbent and dominates the stationary phase for TLC. And, adsorption type is the
basis of thin layer chromatography.

Retention factor, or Rf represents the distance travelled by a particular substance

as a fraction of the distance travelled by the solvent front. The factors affecting Rf values
and reproducibility are: moisture on the TLC plate, structure of the TLC plate, thickness
of the layers, depth of mobile phase, vessel saturation, temperature, sample size, and the
solvent system. To calculate retention factor, measure the distance from the line where
spotting took place to the center of the dot, and divide that by the distance from that same
line to the line.

The second type of chromatography is the column chromatography. Column

chromatography is one of the most useful methods for the separation and purification of
both solids and liquids (Quality Control and Evaluation of Herbal Drugs, 2019). Also,
Column chromatography is a type of chromatographic technique used to separate the
entire sample to isolate the desired product. Just like the thin layer chromatography,
column chromatography is executed with the same principles. The only difference is the
direction in which the mixture moves, TLC moves up while column moves down.

As with the TLC, column chromatography also used adsorbent, but with the addition
of eluent. Adsorbent is the compound in stationary phase used to fill the column. On the
 other hand, eluent is the solvent in mobile phase used to separate and move constituents
of a mixture through the column of a chromatograph. The retention factor should be
acquired in the process to determine the distance between the solute over the solvent. The
components separated in flasks after the separation of the mixture are called fractions. To
analyze the NMR spectrum, the fractions obtained from the experiment is needed.

1.2 Objective of the Experiment

The purpose of this experiment is to separate mixture by thin layer chromatography and
column chromatography. The objectives are as follows:
1. To identify the unknown by thin layer chromatography
2. To separate mixture by column chromatography
3. To demonstrate the process of tin layer chromatography and column chfromatography
 MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 General Information

The materials that were used when conducting the experiment are solvent, beaker,
cover, TLC plate, Erlenmeyer flask, UV light, protective glasses, a pencil, column
chromatography plates, silica gel, cotton plug, wire, clamp, sand, eluent, beaker, hood, stirrer,
spatula, pipette, flask, tube and a stopper.

Figure 2.1 Experimental set-up of Thin Layer Chromatography (taken from AilsaMcK )

Figure 2.2. Experimental set-up of column chromatography (taken from Grossegger

2015)
2.2 Procedure

Thin layer Chromatography (TLC)

In order to perform Thin Layer Chromatography, some TLC plates were needed. A
line were drawn in pencil fairly near the bottom of the plate. The capillary tube was inserted
in the Erlenmeyer flask with the solution containing the components to be separated. Some of
the solution were observed rising up into the tube due to capillary action. The plate were then
spot with the contents of the tube. The bottom of the tube were pressed to the plate, right on
the line drew, firmly enough that the solution gets deposited onto the plate, but not so firmly
so as to disrupt the silica. The contents of the tube were spotted two to three times to load
most of it on the plate. The spotted TLC plate were then placed in the beaker containing the
solvent, leaning against the side. The pencil line with the spot were placed high enough to
avoid getting submerged into the solvent. As the beaker were covered the plate were then
observed develop. The solvent, which we call the mobile phase, then begin to rise up the
plate, known as the stationary phase. The components of the mixture will move up the plate
at different rates. As it hits the sample, those components were drag up with it. However, as
the component move across the plate, they interact with the hydroxyl groups in the silica to
differing degrees. The plate were remove before the solvent reach the edge. A pencil were
used to mark solvent line, for this will not be visible in a few moments as the plate dry
completely. The components usually do not show up as visible data. A special technique were
used to see where they are on the developed plate. Many compounds were visualized with
UV light, as certain functional groups in organic molecules interact with these wavelengths
and glow under this light. Protective glasses were used as a precaution as UV light can
seriously damage the eyes when looked at directly. All data were traced using a pencil for
later analysis.

Retention Factor
To determine the retention factor of the compound, calculate the distance between the
start line and the solvent spot. Afterwards, find the distance between the center of the spot
and the start line. Divide the distance traveled by the solvent by the distance traveled by each
individual spot. The resulting ratio is referred to as the Rf value. The value should be between
0.0 (if the spot did not move from the starting line) and 1.0 (if the spot did not move with the
solvent front), and it has no unit.
Figure 3. Procedural summary of Thin Layer Chromatography (taken from Sagar Aryal 2018)

Column Chromatography

Column chromatography used silica gel that acts as a stationary phase. The
components then are separated as they move through the column based on the interaction of
gel with hydroxyl groups. They move down the column and the place all of the material at
once. In the bottom of the column, the right amount of cotton plug was place by the use of a
wire. The column in place then were clam and added a layer of sand where it filled the curved
bottom of its section. One third of the solvent system or eluent was filled up in the column.
This is the solvent system that selected by TLC which produce the optimum separation of the
components in the mixture. Ideally, the target molecule where identified by assessing its
polarity and comparing it to the Rf values on the plate. In the beaker that contains the solvent,
dry silica gel which is a powder was poured. This is done in a hood for not to inhale the
silica. The mixtures then was stirred until become slurry which acts as the stationary phase in
the column. The spatula was used to get in the column and more solvent are also added. By
the used of some object, the side of the column was gently tap until the silica settled in the
bottom. The pipette were used to rinse the sides with eluent to make sure the silica gets all
down there. The column started drip into a flask for the silica is settled but mindful that the
solvent level run below the top of the silica. Compressed air through a tube fitted with a
stopper at the top of the column was pushed to speed up the drip. More solvent was used until
the stationary phase is packed very tightly. It is important that the phase is very smooth with
nor cracks or uneven sections. After, another layer of sand on top of the column was place
then the solvent were allowed to drip until it sits right between the sand and stationary phase.
The isolated mixture was taken and dissolved in a absolute smallest amount of solvent
possible. On dripping down, it directed on the sand without touching the sides of the column.
The small amount of solvent was drain to load the mixture onto the stationary phase. A thin
band at the top of the stationary phase for separation to work has a sample that is
concentrated.
The solvent was carefully pipette into the column and squirting it against the side of
the column. This is done until the solvent level is several inches above the sand. Then the
solvent were poured from a beaker carefully not to disturb the sand or column. When the
column is run, this should never let the solvent level run below the sand. The solvent level is
always above the sand, so place more solvent as it is necessary.
Series of small numbered flasks that referred as fraction was used to collect the
solvent that were dripped. The first fraction is unimportant because it is way up at the top of
the column and none of the components travelled faster the the solvent. As the eluent was
pushed through the column, the components also began to separate as it moves through the
column with optimal flow rate and a few drops per second. On this, the bands are often
clearly see in different colors that moves down in a stationary phase. Volume of each fraction
was reduced when important sample is collected. Gauge the concentration by color and the
more fractions it become better. More eluent was added and pushed until all the necessary
samples were collected. For the remaining samples, it was pushed and dried.

Figure 3. Procedural summary of column chromatography (taken from byju's.com 2021)

 RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Thin Layer Chromatography

The components, which appear as distinct spots, are identified by comparing their
travel distances to those of known reference materials. Each spot has a retention factor (Rf)
equal to the distance migrated multiplied by the solvent's total distance covered. Due to their
uniqueness, the Rf value can be used to identify compounds. When two different compounds
are compared under identical conditions, the compound with a higher Rf value is less polar
because it does not adhere to the stationary phase as long as the polar compound with a lower
Rf value does.

Retention factor Rf values and reproducibility can be influenced by a variety of

variables, including layer thickness, moisture content of the TLC plate, vessel saturation,
temperature, depth of mobile phase, nature of the TLC plate, sample size, and solvent
parameters. Normally, these effects result in an increase in Rf values. However, when the
layer thickness is increased, the Rf value decreases because the mobile phase moves more
slowly up the plate.

Coulomb Chromatography

When the mobile phase along with the mixture that needs to be separated is
introduced from the top of the column, the movement of the individual components of the
mixture is at different rates. The components with lower adsorption and affinity to stationary
phase travel faster when compared to the greater adsorption and affinity with the stationary
phase. The components that move fast are removed first whereas the components that move
slowly are eluted out last. In the experiment, the fractions were analyzed by TLC or thin layer
chromatography. The desired fractions was collected and combined in a flask suitable for
rotavap. The solvent was evaporated to get the product purified and islolated. The product
was analyze by NMR to know if it is pure.
 REFERENCES

AilsaMcK. (n.d.). Pin on Analytical Techniques. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/296745062924305548/\

Aryal, S. (2021, February 4). Thin Layer Chromatography. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from

https://microbenotes.com/thin-layer-chromatography/

Column Chromatography - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (2019). Retrieved on

November 16, 2021, from
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/column-chromatography
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidelines BYJU’S. (2021b, March 22).
Retrieved November 16, 2021, BYJUS. https://byjus.com/chemistry/column-
chromatography/
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidelines BYJU’S. (2021, March 22).
Retrieved November 16, 2021, BYJUS. https://byjus.com/chemistry/thin-layer-
chromatography/
Grossegger, D. (2015, May). Basic experimental set-up for column chromatography.
Retrieved November 16, 2021, Research Gate.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Basic-experimental-set-up-for-column-
chromatography-39_fig8_306395170
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2013, August 16). Silica Gel | chemical
compound. Retrieved November 16, 2021, Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/silica-gel