Click Buttons Info on the author of this site Go to the Home Page Go to the Contact page Read Site Updates and latest news Go to the Utility Download Page Go to the Web Links Page View or Sign my Guest Book

CHEMISTRY : Chromatography

Choice of Solvents and their properties



PROJECT CODE: 04.01i
SECTION: CHROMATOGRAPHY
PROJECT TITLE: SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR SOLVENTS USED in Paper Chromatography
RELEASE DATE: 07 Feb 99
LAST UPDATE: 2 Sep 2009
VERSION HISTORY: 1.0 - First release
1.1 - Revision of text and formatting. (2-Sep-2009)



LIST OF SOLVENTS USED

  1. 65% METHANOL (120 minutes) - (click to view individual result)
  2. 60% ETHANOL ( 120 - 150 minutes) - (click to view individual result)
  3. *BUTANOL ( 90 minutes ) - (click to view individual result)
  4. *CARBON TETRACHLORIDE ( less than 40 minutes)  (click to view individual result)
  5. *CHLOROFORM (less than 40 minutes)   (click to view individual result)
  6. 60% METHANOIC ACID (90 minutes )   (click to view individual result)
  7. 60% PROPANONE ( 100 minutes) (click to view individual result)
Percentages show the dilution of the solvent with water.

* These solvents cannot be diluted with water since they are immiscible.
To view the miscibility chart for the solvents mentioned above - click here

Preparation of 60% and 65% mixtures:
60% :  3 vols. solvent + 2 vols. water Eg: 3.0ml + 2.0ml ==>  5ml mixture
65% : 13 vols. solvent + 7 vols. water Eg: 6.5ml + 3.5ml ==> 10ml mixture




TABLE OF RESULTS FOR SOLVENT CHARACTERISTICS


Solvent Name Flow Time (mins) Speed of flow Solubility score (0-10) Separation score (0 - 10) Overall Score (%) (i)
60% Propanone 120 Moderate
10
9
97%
60% Ethanol 140 Slow
9
9
90%
60% Methanoic acid   90 Fast
7
8
82%
65% Methanol 120 Moderate
6
8
68%
Abs. TetraCl.Methane 100 Quite Fast
7
3
40%
Abs. Butanol   80 Fast
9
0
20%
Abs. Chloroform   40 (ii) Moderate
9
0
15%


  1. Scores are given in relation between the various types solvents used and are different from the scores given in the individual solvent tests. In the latter, the scores were in relation between the different concentrations of the same solvent.
  2. For chloroform, 40 mins does not indicate that this is a fast solvent, but simply 40mins is the ideal time to be used







Chromatography Section Links :
Chemistry Section Links