Merits and

demerits Planar
Chromatography
PRESENTED TO: DR. MUHAMMAD WASEEM MUMTAZ
PRESENTED BY: UMAR ZULFIQAR(16361507-025)
COURSE CODE: CHEM-313
COURSE TITLE: ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY-II
SEMESTER: FALL 2018
Table of Contents: 2

 Chromatography……………………………………………………………………….………….3
 Classification…………………………………………………………………………………..........4
 Types of Planar chromatography……………………………………………………………….5
 Difference between paper and thin layer chromatography………………………..……6
 Merits of Paper chromatography…………………………………………………………….....7
 Demerits of Paper chromatography………………………………………………………..…..8
 Merits of Thin layer chromatography……………………………………………………………9
 Demerits of Thin layer chromatography…………….…………………………...…………....11
 References………………………………….…..………………………………………..………....12
Chromatography 3

 Chromatography is from two Greek words chroma meaning “color”

and graphein meaning “ to write”, that is chromatography means
“color writing”.

 Chromatography is a technique for separating mixtures into their

components in order to analyze, identify, purify, and/or quantify the
mixtures or components.
Classification 4

 Column chromatography  Planar chromatography

The stationary phase is held in a narrow tube The stationary phase is supported on a flat
through which mobile phase is forced under plate or the interstices of a paper and mobile
pressure or by gravity. phase moves through stationary phase by
capillary action or by gravity.

fig 2 shows Paper chromatography diagram

fig 1 shows column chromatography
Types of planar chromatography 5

 Paper chromatography  Thin layer chromatography

 Separates dried liquid samples  Separates dried liquid samples
with a liquid solvent(mobile phase) with a liquid solvent(mobile phase)
and a paper strip(stationary and a glass plate covered with a
phase). thin layer of alumina or silica gel.
Difference between paper and
thin layer chromatography
 Paper chromatography
• The principle of separation is
partition.
• More time consuming.
• Less amount of substance is
required.
• Paper can not be heated in an
oven.
• Separation is less sharp.
• Less sensitivity of detection
6
 Thin layer chromatography
• The principle separation
adsorption.
• Less time consuming.
• More amount of substance is
required.
• TLC plates can be heated in an
oven.
• Separation is more sharp.
• High sensitivity of detection.
Merits of Paper chromatography 7

 General, versatile method for separation of components in mixture.

 Identification of unknown by comparison with reference sample.
 No restriction on sample type-organic, inorganic, biological, or
medical.
 Separation of dyes and salts.
 Needs little quantitative material.
 Cheaper as compared to other chromatographic technique.
 Can be used to separate very complex mixtures.
Demerits of Paper chromatography 8

 The controlled texture and thickness of filter paper required as

stationary phase.
 Variation in water content of paper, moisture must be kept carefully
in its manufacture, storage and use to produce reproducible results.
 The physical orientation of channels in manufacturing.
 Some of the hydroxyl groups of glucose molecules can be oxidized
to aldehyde, ketones, or carboxylic acid due to the processes used
during manufacture.
Merits of thin layer 9

chromatography:
 More important use of TLC is to identify the unknown sample
components to confirm the identification of analyte.
 Minimum equipment is required to perform TLC compared to other
separation methods.
 Fast TLC with multiple samples separated at the same time.
 In TLC a small sample size of only several microliters is used.
 The sensitivity of the TLC competes with other methods of
separation.
Cont.… 10

 Spraying with corrosive agents for detection is possible with TLC.

 Components separated by TLC can be easily recovered by
discarding the adsorbent layer containing the sample from the
plate.
 The isolation of the preparative quantities can be obtained with the
thicker layers of adsorbent
Demerits of TLC 11

 Numerous factors affect the result of TLC like type of stationary

phase(sorbent), its particle size and activity, type of plate(
precoated or hand made), layer of thickness, mobile phase
composition(solvent system), velocity of mobile phase etc.
 The TLC plate has no long stationary phases. Therefore, the duration
of the separation is limited compared to other chromatographic
techniques.
 The detection limit is much higher. If a lower detection limit is
required, other chromatographic techniques must be used.
 TLC works like an open system, which is why factors such as humidity
and temperature can be consequences for the results of the
chromatogram.
References: 12

 Remington: The science and practice of pharmacy, 20nd edition,

Pharmaceutical Press, Vol.1, pg. no 587-613.
 https://www.studymode.com/essays/Advantages-And-
Disadvantages-Of-PaperChromatography(November, 27 2018,
2pm)
 https://blog.milesscientific.com/blog/applications-and-advantages-
of-thin-layer-chromatography( November, 30 2018, 11pm)